A&nbsp;Singapore&nbsp;court on Friday sentenced an&nbsp;Australian&nbsp;man&nbsp;to five and a half years in prison for&nbsp;killing&nbsp;an elderly&nbsp;Singaporean&nbsp;man&nbsp;and hurting his wife with a thrown&nbsp;wine&nbsp;bottle, in what the judge called an act of religious hostility toward Muslims.

Andrew Gosling was convicted of "causing death and grievous hurt by a rash act" for throwing a&nbsp;wine&nbsp;bottle&nbsp;at a group of people two storeys below him, striking a 73-year-old&nbsp;man&nbsp;and&nbsp;killing&nbsp;him in 2019. The&nbsp;bottle&nbsp;ricocheted and injured the shoulder of the&nbsp;man's wife.

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"I agree with the prosecution that the present offence involves an element of demonstration of religious hostility towards Muslims," said judge Victor Yeo. "Such offences could seriously undermine&nbsp;Singapore's racial and religious harmony and must not be tolerated and must be firmly dealt with."

Singapore&nbsp;is a multiracial country of 5.5 million people, of whom about 16 per cent&nbsp;are Muslim, with bigger Buddhist and Christian communities. It has a predominantly ethnic Chinese population with sizeable Malay and Indian minorities, according to the 2020 census. The victims have been identified as ethnic Malay Muslims.

“It’s fate,”&nbsp;Manisah binte Sitri, the wife of the&nbsp;man&nbsp;Gosling killed, said after the sentencing. Her children added that only time will heal and that they wish to move on from the incident.

The court had been told that Gosling admitted during the investigation he was "angry and upset" over Islamic militant attacks in Bali and Melbourne in which&nbsp;many&nbsp;Australians had died, and wanted to "startle" the group after identifying them as Muslims.

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<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/the-hefty-cost-of-owning-a-car-in-singapore-469271/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Prosecutors said Gosling, who was 49 years old at the time of the crime, ran away, shouting "crude, religiously charged vulgarities" about Muslims.

His actions had the "wider impact of causing unease in&nbsp;Singapore, especially amongst the broader Muslim population" and demonstrated religious hostility, the prosecution said.

Gosling was in&nbsp;Singapore&nbsp;to seek employment back in 2019.

Through most of Friday's hearing, Gosling, who had pleaded guilty, stared straight ahead but turned around briefly to look at his parents, who were present in court.

The maximum penalty for the first charge against Gosling - causing death by a rash act is five years imprisonment, a fine, or both, while the maximum penalty for the second charge - causing grievous hurt by the rash act is a jail term up to four years, a fine, or both.

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Gosling was given four years imprisonment under the first charge and 18 months for the second charge.

The judge said he accepted the mitigating factors such as Gosling being "genuinely remorseful" for his actions after turning himself in to the authorities, his guilty plea and his voluntary compensation payment to the victims' family.

Gosling's lawyers had said alcohol may have impaired his judgement, citing a psychiatric report, and argued that his act is unlikely to be religiously motivated. They added he intends to appeal the sentence.

The prison sentence will commence retroactively from August 2019, when Gosling was taken into custody.

A Singapore court on Friday sentenced an Australian man to five and a half years in prison for killing an elderly Singaporean man and hurting his wife with a thrown wine bottle, in what the judge called an act of religious hostility toward Muslims.

A Singapore court on Friday sentenced an Australian man to five and a half years in prison for killing an elderly Singaporean man and hurting his wife with a thrown wine bottle, in what the judge called an act of religious hostility toward Muslims. Andrew Gosling was convicted of "causing death and grievous hurt by a rash act" for throwing a wine bottle at a group of people two storeys below him, striking a 73-year-old man and killing him in 2019. The bottle ricocheted and injured the shoulder of the man's wife. Also read | Singaporean man hanged for drug trafficking, activists raise alarm over more executions after 2-year halt "I agree with the prosecution that the present offence involves an element of demonstration of religious hostility towards Muslims," said judge Victor Yeo. "Such offences could seriously undermine Singapore's racial and religious harmony and must not be tolerated and must be firmly dealt with." Singapore is a multiracial country of 5.5 million people, of whom about 16 per cent are Muslim, with bigger Buddhist and Christian communities. It has a predominantly ethnic Chinese population with sizeable Malay and Indian minorities, according to the 2020 census. The victims have been identified as ethnic Malay Muslims. “It’s fate,” Manisah binte Sitri, the wife of the man Gosling killed, said after the sentencing. Her children added that only time will heal and that they wish to move on from the incident. The court had been told that Gosling admitted during the investigation he was "angry and upset" over Islamic militant attacks in Bali and Melbourne in which many Australians had died, and wanted to "startle" the group after identifying them as Muslims. Watch | The hefty cost of owning a car in Singapore Prosecutors said Gosling, who was 49 years old at the time of the crime, ran away, shouting "crude, religiously charged vulgarities" about Muslims. His actions had the "wider impact of causing unease in Singapore, especially amongst the broader Muslim population" and demonstrated religious hostility, the prosecution said. Gosling was in Singapore to seek employment back in 2019. Through most of Friday's hearing, Gosling, who had pleaded guilty, stared straight ahead but turned around briefly to look at his parents, who were present in court. The maximum penalty for the first charge against Gosling - causing death by a rash act is five years imprisonment, a fine, or both, while the maximum penalty for the second charge - causing grievous hurt by the rash act is a jail term up to four years, a fine, or both. Also read | Singapore reopens borders after two-year Covid closure Gosling was given four years imprisonment under the first charge and 18 months for the second charge. The judge said he accepted the mitigating factors such as Gosling being "genuinely remorseful" for his actions after turning himself in to the authorities, his guilty plea and his voluntary compensation payment to the victims' family. Gosling's lawyers had said alcohol may have impaired his judgement, citing a psychiatric report, and argued that his act is unlikely to be religiously motivated. They added he intends to appeal the sentence. The prison sentence will commence retroactively from August 2019, when Gosling was taken into custody.

Singapore sentences Australian for hurling bottle, killing man in 'act of religious hostility toward Muslims'

The masked woman nervously approaches her target, shuffles into position and then unleashes a flurry of lashes -- proving herself as the newest member of the first female flogging squad in Indonesia's Aceh province.

The new recruit initially needed some coaxing to punish the offender -- an unmarried woman caught in a hotel room with a man.

Such behaviour constitutes a morality crime in Aceh, the only region in the world's biggest Muslim-majority nation that imposes Islamic law -- known as Sharia. Those found guilty of breaches are often publicly whipped with a rattan cane.

But despite her reticence, she persevered and delivered her first flogging.

"I think she did a good job. Her technique was nice," Banda Aceh Sharia police chief investigator Zakwan, who uses one name, told AFP.

The controversial punishment enrages rights activists and generates heated media debate, as well as amongst politicians.&nbsp;

Indonesia's president has issued a call for the public floggings to stop but he has little say over what happens in Aceh, a deeply conservative region on Sumatra island.

Unlike the rest of the nation, Aceh follows religious law as part of a 2005 autonomy deal agreed with the central government that ended a decades-long separatist insurgency.

Here, public whipping remains a common punishment for scores of offenders for a range of charges including gambling, adultery, drinking alcohol, and having gay or pre-marital sex.&nbsp;

But the job has always been done by men. Until now.

'No mercy'

More and more women are being charged for morality crimes such as public affection or premarital sex, experts say, as greater internet access and globalisation bring clashes with local cultural and religious norms.&nbsp;

Enforcement too has increased and now Aceh says it's trying to follow Islamic law, which calls for women to whip female perpetrators. This is already what happens in neighbouring Malaysia.&nbsp;

But convincing women to participate has been no easy task, and it's taken years to assemble the first female squad, according to Safriadi, who heads provincial capital Banda Aceh's Sharia Implementation Unit.

Eight women -- all Sharia officers -- agreed to be floggers and were trained in the appropriate technique and advised how to limit injury.&nbsp;

Previously, a dozen men performed all the whippings in the city for an unspecified fee.

For security reasons, Aceh officials declined to let AFP speak with the floggers, who are outfitted in cloth masks and loose-fitting brown uniforms to hide their identities.

"We train them to make sure they're physically fit and teach them how to do a proper whipping," Zakwan said.

But the secret for any whipping is getting past the mental hurdle of lashing fellow citizens.&nbsp;

For that, you need to look to God, Zakwan said.

"It's kind of an indoctrination that we give to them so they have a better understanding of their role -- have no mercy for those who violate God's law', he added.

'Too lenient'

Aceh officials insist caning deters crime, with patrols often scouring public places and establishments -- or acting on tip-offs -- to monitor behaviour.

Sharia police in Banda Aceh, a city of some 220,000 people, are on the streets round-the-clock in three shifts.

On a recent patrol, a couple sitting close to each other on the beach escaped with a reprimand.

But a group of men and women spotted at a coffee shop around 3:00 am weren't so lucky and were arrested on suspicion of breaking strict codes about unmarried men and women interacting.

<img alt="Sharia law" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="1096f324-388a-42ce-969b-62f010a3ef8e" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_1NN8X7.jpg" />

[A woman, 21, who was caught in proximity with her boyfriend, is caned in Banda Aceh on October 29, 2018. (Photo: AFP)] 
 
"This shows that we never sleep looking for violations of Sharia (Islamic law)," Safriadi said.

From behind bars, one of the men said that there was nothing romantic happening at the coffee shop.

"We don't even know the women and were sitting at different tables," he told AFP.

The women were later released with a reprimand as were the men, but police said the trio may be charged for a new offence, after it was determined they were gay.

Same-sex relations can earn residents a whipping in front of jeering crowds, which can number in the hundreds.

"Sharia in Aceh is still lenient," said resident Saiful Tengkuh.

"Aceh needs harsher punishments like stoning, not just whipping. Someone committing adultery should be stoned 100 times," he added.

'Don't do it again'

Aceh, home to about 5 million people, once mulled beheading for serious crimes, but the central government ruled it out.

This summer, it made headlines over a fatwa, or religious edict, against online game PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG) and opposing a national women's football league because it didn't have a stadium where only female players, match officials and spectators would be present.

But whipping is often what gets Aceh in the news -- unwanted attention local officials say is Islamophobic.

Advocates say many people caught breaking religious law choose to whip as an efficient if painful, way to avoid a stiff jail term.

But this rough justice can take a toll.&nbsp;

Floggings can be so severe that people pass out or are hospitalised, with the most serious crimes -- including gay sex and having relations with a minor -- earning as many as 150 lashes.

Many offenders have fled the area out of shame or because customers deserted their businesses. Few are keen to discuss their experience.

For women, arrest for even a minor violation can lead to victimisation, including sexual harassment and rape during the arrest, according to research by the Network for Civil Society Concerned with Sharia.&nbsp;

Reporting these assaults without proof can even open up victims to flogging for making a false accusation, it added.

Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have condemned such punishments as "barbaric", "inhumane", and tantamount to torture.&nbsp;

But Aceh officials insist they're "far more lenient" than ultra-conservative Saudi Arabia and some other Muslim nations.

"We're not aiming to hurt people by whipping them," Safriadi said.

"The most important thing is the shaming effect on violators and spectators so they don't do it again."

The masked woman nervously approaches her target, shuffles into position and then unleashes a flurry of lashes -- proving herself as the newest member of the first female flogging squad in Indonesia's Aceh province.

The masked woman nervously approaches her target, shuffles into position and then unleashes a flurry of lashes -- proving herself as the newest member of the first female flogging squad in Indonesia's Aceh province. The new recruit initially needed some coaxing to punish the offender -- an unmarried woman caught in a hotel room with a man. Such behaviour constitutes a morality crime in Aceh, the only region in the world's biggest Muslim-majority nation that imposes Islamic law -- known as Sharia. Those found guilty of breaches are often publicly whipped with a rattan cane. But despite her reticence, she persevered and delivered her first flogging. "I think she did a good job. Her technique was nice," Banda Aceh Sharia police chief investigator Zakwan, who uses one name, told AFP. The controversial punishment enrages rights activists and generates heated media debate, as well as amongst politicians. Indonesia's president has issued a call for the public floggings to stop but he has little say over what happens in Aceh, a deeply conservative region on Sumatra island. Unlike the rest of the nation, Aceh follows religious law as part of a 2005 autonomy deal agreed with the central government that ended a decades-long separatist insurgency. Here, public whipping remains a common punishment for scores of offenders for a range of charges including gambling, adultery, drinking alcohol, and having gay or pre-marital sex. But the job has always been done by men. Until now. 'No mercy' More and more women are being charged for morality crimes such as public affection or premarital sex, experts say, as greater internet access and globalisation bring clashes with local cultural and religious norms. Enforcement too has increased and now Aceh says it's trying to follow Islamic law, which calls for women to whip female perpetrators. This is already what happens in neighbouring Malaysia. But convincing women to participate has been no easy task, and it's taken years to assemble the first female squad, according to Safriadi, who heads provincial capital Banda Aceh's Sharia Implementation Unit. Eight women -- all Sharia officers -- agreed to be floggers and were trained in the appropriate technique and advised how to limit injury. Previously, a dozen men performed all the whippings in the city for an unspecified fee. For security reasons, Aceh officials declined to let AFP speak with the floggers, who are outfitted in cloth masks and loose-fitting brown uniforms to hide their identities. "We train them to make sure they're physically fit and teach them how to do a proper whipping," Zakwan said. But the secret for any whipping is getting past the mental hurdle of lashing fellow citizens. For that, you need to look to God, Zakwan said. "It's kind of an indoctrination that we give to them so they have a better understanding of their role -- have no mercy for those who violate God's law', he added. 'Too lenient' Aceh officials insist caning deters crime, with patrols often scouring public places and establishments -- or acting on tip-offs -- to monitor behaviour. Sharia police in Banda Aceh, a city of some 220,000 people, are on the streets round-the-clock in three shifts. On a recent patrol, a couple sitting close to each other on the beach escaped with a reprimand. But a group of men and women spotted at a coffee shop around 3:00 am weren't so lucky and were arrested on suspicion of breaking strict codes about unmarried men and women interacting. [A woman, 21, who was caught in proximity with her boyfriend, is caned in Banda Aceh on October 29, 2018. (Photo: AFP)] "This shows that we never sleep looking for violations of Sharia (Islamic law)," Safriadi said. From behind bars, one of the men said that there was nothing romantic happening at the coffee shop. "We don't even know the women and were sitting at different tables," he told AFP. The women were later released with a reprimand as were the men, but police said the trio may be charged for a new offence, after it was determined they were gay. Same-sex relations can earn residents a whipping in front of jeering crowds, which can number in the hundreds. "Sharia in Aceh is still lenient," said resident Saiful Tengkuh. "Aceh needs harsher punishments like stoning, not just whipping. Someone committing adultery should be stoned 100 times," he added. 'Don't do it again' Aceh, home to about 5 million people, once mulled beheading for serious crimes, but the central government ruled it out. This summer, it made headlines over a fatwa, or religious edict, against online game PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG) and opposing a national women's football league because it didn't have a stadium where only female players, match officials and spectators would be present. But whipping is often what gets Aceh in the news -- unwanted attention local officials say is Islamophobic. Advocates say many people caught breaking religious law choose to whip as an efficient if painful, way to avoid a stiff jail term. But this rough justice can take a toll. Floggings can be so severe that people pass out or are hospitalised, with the most serious crimes -- including gay sex and having relations with a minor -- earning as many as 150 lashes. Many offenders have fled the area out of shame or because customers deserted their businesses. Few are keen to discuss their experience. For women, arrest for even a minor violation can lead to victimisation, including sexual harassment and rape during the arrest, according to research by the Network for Civil Society Concerned with Sharia. Reporting these assaults without proof can even open up victims to flogging for making a false accusation, it added. Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have condemned such punishments as "barbaric", "inhumane", and tantamount to torture. But Aceh officials insist they're "far more lenient" than ultra-conservative Saudi Arabia and some other Muslim nations. "We're not aiming to hurt people by whipping them," Safriadi said. "The most important thing is the shaming effect on violators and spectators so they don't do it again."

Sharia law in Indonesia: Now, female floggers to whip women for premarital sex, cuddling in public

Sixty Indonesians died and several others are critically ill after drinking bootleg liquor, police said on Monday, with the toll steadily climbing.

The victims were among people admitted to hospital after sampling homemade alcoholic drinks in Cicalengka district in West Java province, provincial police spokesman Trunoyudo Wisnu Andiko said.&nbsp;

"We are investigating the shop that sold the illegal liquor," he said, adding no one had yet been arrested.

The seller, who has been arrested, admitted he had mixed pure alcohol with Coca-Cola and an energy drink, police said.

Police conducted raids in cities across the world's biggest Muslim majority country to arrest vendors selling the cheap homebrew.

Most Indonesians practise a moderate form of Islam and alcohol is available in big cities.

But high taxes make it expensive so poorly paid workers sometimes turn to potentially dangerous homemade alcohol.

In 2016, 36 people died in Central Java after drinking locally-bought homebrew.

(With inputs from Agencies)

Police conducted raids in cities across the world's biggest Muslim majority country to arrest vendors selling the cheap homebrew.

Sixty Indonesians died and several others are critically ill after drinking bootleg liquor, police said on Monday, with the toll steadily climbing. The victims were among people admitted to hospital after sampling homemade alcoholic drinks in Cicalengka district in West Java province, provincial police spokesman Trunoyudo Wisnu Andiko said. "We are investigating the shop that sold the illegal liquor," he said, adding no one had yet been arrested. The seller, who has been arrested, admitted he had mixed pure alcohol with Coca-Cola and an energy drink, police said. Police conducted raids in cities across the world's biggest Muslim majority country to arrest vendors selling the cheap homebrew. Most Indonesians practise a moderate form of Islam and alcohol is available in big cities. But high taxes make it expensive so poorly paid workers sometimes turn to potentially dangerous homemade alcohol. In 2016, 36 people died in Central Java after drinking locally-bought homebrew. (With inputs from Agencies)

Over 60 dead in Indonesia from drinking bootleg alcohol