High Court orders nationwide search for Indira's ex-husband

The Ipoh High Court today ordered the police to widen the search for Riduan Abdullah, who has been accused of failing to return his youngest daughter to his ex-wife, M Indira Gandhi.

Judge Norsharidah Awang said the search should not be limited to Kelantan but extended across the entire country.

“Do not focus only on Kelantan. The whole of Malaysia, Kedah, Perak… This case has gone on for many years, and there needs to be more proactive updates,” she said.

Earlier, Yap Siew Cheng, 44, from the Perak Criminal Investigation Department, was summoned to the court regarding an additional affidavit filed by Indira.

The affidavit concerns the use of Budi95 and Rahmah Necessities Aid (Sara) benefits by Riduan, as part of judicial monitoring connected to the outstanding arrest warrant against him.

When asked by Norsharidah whether police had identified the petrol station where Riduan used Budi95, Yap said investigations were still ongoing.

Yap also explained that initial efforts were focused in Kelantan because Riduan’s second wife is from the state, and checks with the state education department previously indicated that his daughter was enrolled in a school there.

She added that police have been carrying out further investigative steps regarding the committal warrant dated May 30, 2014, to locate Riduan, with efforts spanning from Sept 9 to Nov 17.

The court set Feb 27 next year for further updates.

In 2009, Riduan converted the couple’s three children to Islam without Indira’s consent and sought custody through the Syariah Court. On Jan 29, 2018, the Federal Court ruled that the conversions were null and void.

The court also ordered the inspector-general of police to arrest Riduan for defying the High Court’s directive to return the youngest daughter to her mother.

- Bernama

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