Police officer caned in public over gambling in Indonesia's conservative Aceh province

BANDA ACEH, Indonesia – Authorities in Indonesia's conservative Aceh province say they've publicly caned a police officer for gambling.

Prosecutor Darwin says Sgt. Irwanuddin was given six lashes Tuesday outside a mosque in Sabang district as hundreds of onlookers watched. Both men use only one name.

Darwin says it's the first time a police officer was publicly caned in Aceh.

He says the caning was initially scheduled for last week, but was stopped after a local police chief and other officers showed up and took Irwanuddin away.

Outraged residents then accused the police of acting "above the law."

Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation, has a policy of secularism but allows highly conservative Aceh to implement a version of Sharia Islamic law. Residents can be caned for drinking alcohol, committing adultery or gambling.