KOTA BARU: A woman in her 50s and her son were nabbed for selling packed rice to Muslims during the fasting month.
They were arrested during a special joint operation between the Kelantan Islamic Religious Affairs Department (Jaheik) and Kota Baru Municipal Council (MPKB).
The duo were among the popular stalls selling 'nasi berlauk' around Padang Tembak over the years.
They have been selling rice with various dishes at a permanent area there but during the fasting month, they decided to sell the food using their Perodua Myvi.
Their intention to go mobile was revealed today when both were nabbed for selling packed rice to Muslims.
Jaheik enforcement division deputy director Mohd Fadzuli Mohd Zain said the two were selling the food which they kept in the boot of their car when they were detained by the officers at about 9am today.
He added Jaheik officers with the help of MPKB staff ambushed the area following public tip-off which they received a week ago.
"After arriving at the location, they saw the woman and her son busy selling the packed rice to two customers.
"The officers then arrested the two as well as the customers, who are both lorry drivers," he said in a statement.
Mohd Fadzuli said also seized in the operation were several packets of rice and various dishes including fish and chicken.
He added 20 Jaheik officers and MPKB staff were involved in the operation which aimed to track down those who were not fasting during Ramadan.
"Our investigation showed that the mother of three and her son have been selling the packed rice to locals since early Ramadan," he added.
He said the woman and the three men were released on bail with one surety each and were expected to be taken to court soon.
He added the mother and the son would be charged under Section 10 of Kelantan Criminal Syariah Enactment (1) 2019 for not respecting the month of Ramadan by selling food.
The two buyers, he said would be charged under Section 21 of the same enactment for commiting an indecent act at a public place.