A man identified as N and a transgender person identified as M were arrested for allegedly being intimate in a beauty salon in Emperum, Banda Aceh.

They allegedly had sex, which is a crime punishable by up to 100 lashes according to local sharia law.

On Wednesday, Evendi A Latif -- the chief of the Public Order Agency’s sharia division -- said local residents broke into the salon and dragged the two to a nearby police station. Local sharia police are investigating the case.

“According to witness testimonies, N allegedly paid M Rp 100,000 (US$ 7.28) for a date,” Evendi said.

He added that N and M denied the allegation during questioning.

“Residents said the salon often served as a same-sex dating site. It caused unrest in the neighborhood,” Evendi said.

N and M faces charges under Article 26 of Qanun Jinayat (Aceh sharia law), which carries a punishment of 100 lashes. (gis)