A Malaysian national is facing a possible jail term and the annulment of his marriage, if investigators can prove that he was in fact a "she." Mohammad Sofian, 40, and Zaiton Aziz, 43, were married by an imam in western Malacca state in December 2002.

But, a Malaysian Islamic court is now conducting investigation into their marriage on suspicion that Sofian is a female. The conservative Muslim Malaysian state prohibits same-sex marriage.

Suspicion arose when the state's religious affairs department refused to acknowledge the union, because Sofian's birth certificate bears a woman's name "Mazinah Mohammad," according to the Strait Times. State prosecutors are now digging into the hospital records, including details of Sofian's birth certificate and identity card.

If the Sharia court finds Sofian to be a female, the marriage will be automatically dissolved and she will be found guilty of violating the law against same-sex marriage.

Sex change operations are available in Malaysia, but local laws still do not recognize the change in sex on the identity cards and legal documents of any person who undergoes the procedure. Furthermore, transsexuality is not recognized or accepted in Islam, and Muslim edicts prohibit gender reassignment surgery.