Singaporean singer Aliff Aziz, Malaysian actress Ruhainies to face trial over close proximity charges

On Wednesday, Singaporean singer-actor Aliff Aziz, 33, and Malaysian actress Ruhainies, 31, pleaded not guilty to the charges of being in close proximity – which saw the pair being detained by Federal Territories Islamic Religious Department (Jawi) officers at a condominium in Kuala Lumpur on March 9.

Aliff and Ruhainies were charged under Section 27(a) and Section 27(b), respectively, of the Sharia Criminal Offences (Federal Territories) Act 1997 which carries a maximum fine of 3,000 ringgit (US$637) or imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or both, if found guilty.

Speaking to members of the media outside the Federal Territory Sharia High Court in Kuala Lumpur, Aliff and Ruhainies asked the public to pray that case would go on smoothly.

The two also fielded questions from reporters, clarifying that they arrived at the court separately and were not engaged, despite reports from certain media outlets.

Aliff explained that he had been resting “mentally, emotionally and physically”.

“I’m also a normal human being, even though I’ve made mistakes. So I’m taking this time to rest and spend time with my family … and make my family ties closer.”

When asked about her thoughts on Aliff’s ex-wife Bella Astillah “congratulating” her for “successfully destroying (Bella’s) marriage”, Ruhanies replied: “Since today’s [proximity] case involves a separate issue, I don’t want to touch on [Bella’s] case.”

The trial will resume in October and the bail bonds for Aliff and Ruhainies have also been extended.