KUALA LUMPUR, April 12 ― The police’s refusal to pursue the abduction of Hindu woman’s son by her estranged husband has forced her to hide herself and her daughter from the Muslim convert.
According to English language daily The Star, S. Deepa, 30, was fearful that her husband may be emboldened by the Inspector-General of Police’s (IGP) declaration yesterday that the police will not act against him despite a Seremban High Court giving her full custody of the two children.
Deepa has now left her house in the Rumah Rakyat Sungai Rotan scheme in Jelebu, after neighbours told her they spotted her ex-husband, N. Viran, 31, near the area.
“I am devastated by the police’s inaction. This is ridiculous. The High Court gave me custody after hearing out both sides.
“Are the police trying to tell me that the High Court order means nothing?” a sobbing Deepa told The Star.
On Monday, the Seremban High Court granted Deepa full custody of her two children ― a nine-year-old daughter and a six-year-old son ― as her marriage to Viran in 2004 was a civil union and did not come under Shariah law.
Justice Datuk Zabariah Mohd Yusof also permitted her to divorce Viran who converted to Islam in 2012, and had taken the Muslim name of Izwan Abdullah.
Viran had allegedly snatched their son from outside her house in Jelebu, Negri Sembilan on Wednesday, following a previous order by a syariah court which awarded custody to him instead.
The IGP had since said that the police will not act against Viran. The Jelebu police also said it was unable to take action due to the two conflicting court orders.
“When I called the investigating officer, she told me they were still waiting for instructions,” said Deepa.
“My son was snatched from me on Wednesday. I just don’t know who to turn to for help any more.”
Deepa’s lawyer Jaya Malar Raman also said contempt proceedings against Viran will be filed next week.
“We are now sorting out the paper work. Once the court issues a warrant of arrest, the police will have no choice but to detain him,” she said.
It is understood that Viran, a former lorry driver who currently works for an Islamic NGO called Yayasan Kasih Sayang, had converted both their children in April last year without Deepa’s consent.
Deepa, who filed for divorce and custody of the children in December last year, has been estranged from her husband since 2011.
