New order compels cops to return Indira’s child

June 12, 2014

Ipoh court addresses concerns raised by IGP's controversial statement.

IPOH:
Kindergarten teacher M Indira Gandhi has obtained a court order that
specifically directs the police to take her daughter from her former
husband and hand over the child to her.




Her lawyers said the order was given by Ipoh High Court judge Lee
Swee Seng yesterday to address concerns raised by the Inspector-General
of Police’s statement that minors in inter-faith child custody cases
should be placed in childcare centres.




The IGP’s statement is widely interpreted as a reluctance to follow
up on court decisions favouring non-Muslims in inter-faith custody
battles.




Two weeks ago, Lee found Indira’s ex-husband, Muhammad Ridzuan
Abdullah, guilty of contempt after repeatedly failing to return the girl
to her mother. The judge gave him one week to do so or face
imprisonment.




Indira has struggled since 2009 to regain Prasana Diksa, who was 11
months old when Ridzuan took her away along with two older siblings and
converted them to Islam.




The High Court later granted Indira Gandhi full custody of all three
children. In a decision on March 11, 2010, Mohd Ridzuan was ordered to
return Prasana Diksa to the mother.




Mohd Ridzuan repeatedly failed to appear in court as well as to
produce the child despite repeated orders by the court, prompting Indira
Gandhi to file contempt proceedings.