( CNN ) -- A Malaysian model , who was set to become the first woman to be caned in the southeast Asian country for drinking beer in public , had her sentence postponed Monday until the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan . Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno 's punishment is unique in that she has opted to go through with it . Authorities had picked up Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno , 32 , from her father 's house Monday morning and were taking her to a prison in the eastern state of Pahang when the van turned around and brought her back . `` They sent her back to the house . They said the top official asked them not to bring her to Kuala Lumpur , '' said Kartika 's father , Shukarno Abdul Muttalib . Authorities in Pahang said the delay would run until the month of fasting ends . Monday was the third day of Ramadan . An Islamic , or sharia , court in Pahang had fined Kartika -- a Muslim -- $ 1,400 ( 5,000 Malaysian ringgit ) and sentenced her to six strokes with a rattan cane for drinking at a hotel bar two years ago . Kartika , a 32-year-old part-time model and mother of two , was visiting Malaysia from Singapore at the time . She pleaded guilty , paid the fine , and wanted her caning to be carried out in public . Watch more on Kartika 's release » . She said she lost her job as a nurse in Singapore and took up part-time modeling to support her husband in raising their two children . Her son has cerebral palsy ; her daughter a heart condition . `` I want to move on . This case has been hanging over me for a long time , '' she told CNN last week . On Monday morning , Kartika hugged her children , bade a tearful goodbye to the throngs of people gathered at her father 's house , and boarded the van . She was to be taken to a prison on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur . The caning would have been carried out within seven days of that , making her the first woman to be caned in Malaysia under sharia law . Kartika 's punishment is unique in that she has opted to go through with it . Two other Malaysians sentenced to the same fate have filed appeals , the Syariah ( Sharia ) Lawyers ' Association of Malaysia said . The case drew widespread attention and condemnation , in and outside Malaysia . The moderate Muslim country has a dual-track justice system , in which Islamic courts operate alongside civil courts . Muslims -- who make up about 60 percent of the 28 million who populate the country -- are forbidden from consuming alcohol . Other religious groups are exempt . Though caning is used as a supplementary punishment in Malaysia for at least 40 crimes , such as rape or immigration violations , it is not meted out by Malaysia 's civil court for alcohol consumption . But the country 's civil system also can not overrule a sharia court sentence . In this respect , Kartika would have been the first woman to be caned for violating the country 's religious laws . `` Regardless of whether or not such penalties fall under Syariah law or civil law , we believe that these should be repealed , as they go against the fundamental human right to be free from torture and violence , '' said Haslinah Yaacob , vice president for the All Women 's Action Society . CNN 's Anna Coren in Sungi Siput , Malaysia , contributed to this report .
NEW : Kartika Shukarno , a model , has sentence delayed until end of Ramadan . Kartika was set to be first woman to be caned in Malaysia for drinking in public . She pleaded guilty , paid a fine , and wanted her caning to be carried out in public . Islamic law dictates caning Muslims seen drinking alcohol ; case caused uproar .