Father, daughter in unilateral conversion storm skips court

PUTRAJAYA: Muslim convert Muhammad Riduan Abdullah did not appear in the Federal Court nor did he bring his youngest daughter despite given a "chance" to do so.
His lawyer, Hatim Musa, however, was allowed to appear for Riduan and make submissions in the appeal filed by Hindu mother M. Indira Ghandi over their children's unilateral conversion to Islam.
On Monday, Indira's lawyer M. Kulasegaran had objected over Hatim's presence in court to represent Riduan in the submissions of the appeal.
Riduan is presently in contempt of court for failing to give the child to Indira, despite an order by the High Court granting custody to the mother.
The five-man panel led by Chief Judge of Malaya Tan Sri Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin and comprising Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak, Tan Sri Richard Malanjum and Federal Court judges Tan Sri Zainun Ali, Tan Sri Abu Samah Nordin and Tan Sri Ramly Ali, will hear the prosecution's submission on Dec 5.
Indira was appealing against 2-1 majority decision of the Court of Appeal on Dec 30 last year, that it did not have jurisdiction to decide on the conversion as it is under the Syariah Court.
On March 2009, Riduan converted to Islam and converted the children to Islam in Perak on April 2, 2009, without the knowledge of Indira and certificates of conversion were issued.
In 2009, the Ipoh Syariah Court gave Riduan, who was formerly known as K. Pathmanathan, custody of their three children, Tevi Darsiny, Karan Dinish and Prasana Diksa, after he unilaterally converted them to Islam.
Prasana 8, is with the father. Tevi is now 19 years old and Karan, 18.
In 2010, the Ipoh High Court granted Indira full custody of all three children and Riduan was ordered to return Prasana Diksa to her mother.