PETALING JAYA, May 29 — Deepa Subramaniam today revealed that her Muslim convert ex-husband Izwan Abdullah intends to snatch away her daughter Sharmila despite losing a custody battle in the civil courts.

Deepa said Izwan, previously known as Viran Nagapan, informed her of his intention after snatching their six-year-old son Mithran last month in defiance of a civil court order.

“Actually Viran told me before, he said after he takes my son, he will take my daughter too,” the 30-year-old Hindu told reporters in a rare public appearance here.

Deepa spoke of the “trauma” she had experienced when she lost Mithran, saying she now fears that her ex-husband may also snatch their nine-year-old daughter Sharmila.

“I cannot live without my children, I am afraid of losing my children,” she said, adding that she has not seen Mithran since the sudden abduction 50 days ago.

Since Mithran was abducted on April 9, Deepa has been living in hiding with her daughter, and does not even dare to send the child to school.

According to Deepa, both her children have been missing school for over a year now.

“Because of Viran's actions, my two children have been living under pressure,” she said describing the immense pressure faced by the two young children.

“(They are) forced not to go to school because of fear that (their) father will run off with them,” she added.

Pleading for the help of the police and authorities, Deepa remains hopeful that she will eventually be able to live together with her two children peacefully.

“I am still strong and confident that the law can solve this matter,” she said.

Deepa said she had complied with all orders in the civil court, saying she would have continued to allow Izwan weekly visits  as ordered by the Seremban High Court.

On April 7, Deepa won full custody rights of her two young children at the Seremban High Court, as her marriage to Izwan in 2004 was a civil union and did not fall under Shariah law.

Just two days later, Izwan snatched the child from Deepa.

On May 21, the same court granted Deepa a recovery order under Section 53 of the Child Act 2001, compelling Izwan to return the child to his ex-wife “immediately”.

Izwan has  defended his actions by pointing to a Shariah court order last year, which granted him custody of the two children he had converted to Islam without  his wife’s consent.

Last month, the police said Izwan had not abducted the child, saying they were bound by the conflicting custody orders in the conventional  and Shariah courts.

According to the Women's Aid Organisation (WAO) which had hosted Deepa's press conference, the police received  the recovery order last week.

The order compels police to track down and return Mithran to his mother immediately, it said.

Police have said they are seeking legal advice from the Attorney-General's Chambers  on the conflicting jurisdictions, WAO said today.