The couple was found guilty of 'beautifying the sin' by the Sharjah court.

A teenager has been charged at a Sharjah court for failing to report to the police that her female roommate was living in with an unrelated male. The 19-year-old Sri Lankan, B.K., was earlier sentenced in absentia to six months in jail to be followed by deportation by the Sharjah criminal court.

According to court records, the police were informed that an unrelated couple was living together in Sharjah's Al Butaina area last year. The police raided the apartment and arrested the Asian couple in their twenties. The police also recovered several bottles of alcohol from the apartment.

The police also learnt that B.K. lived in the same apartment. During her questioning, she told the police that she was aware the couple was living in together without being married and consumed alcohol on different occasions.

The couple was found guilty of 'beautifying the sin' by the Sharjah court and sentenced to one year in jail, to be followed by deportation.

In the latest hearing on Tuesday, B.K. appeared in court and admitted to the charge of failure to report the couple to the authorities. She said she was not aware that living in was considered a crime as she was new to the country. She appealed to the court to show mercy on her as she "had no intention" to commit a crime.

Under the Sharia law, it is illegal for a man and woman who are unrelated or unwed to be alone together. Failure to notify the competent authorities of crimes is also punishable by law.

amira@khaleejtimes.com