Written by Melissa Lee, Malaysia
Sarawak Chief Minister Taib Mahmud's eldest son Mahmud Abu Bekir Abdul Taib was granted a divorce from estranged wife Shahnaz Abdul Majid.
The 48-year old Shahnaz had previously applied for a warrant of arrest against him after he failed to turn up in court to settle their matrimonial properties.
It was not disclosed if the couple, who have a 17-year old son, had reached an out-of-court settlement over their assets. Shahnaz, who is jazz queen Sheila Majid's sister, had sought RM400mil in settlement from Bekir.
In her divorce papers, Shahnaz claimed that they had not had an intimate relationship for more than 10 years and that Mahmud, also 48 and a businessman, had caused her physical and mental torture.
On Wednesday, Syarie judge Mohamad Abdullah allowed the divorce after being satisfied that the couple's marriage could not be saved.
Bekir divorced Shahnaz with a “single talak” at the Syariah High Court.
The sensational divorce case, which came out in the press just weeks before the April 16 Sarawak state election, had gained media hype due to the size of the settlement.
It has also been reported that Bekir was willing to reach an out-of-the-court settlement.
Shahnaz had sought a dissolution of her marriage under fasakh (or her own application for divorce) on grounds that he had not been fair to her and had not carried out his marital duties.
In her statement of claim, she said she married Bekir on Jan 9, 1992, and that they had a son.
Bekir also has a Russian wife.
- Malaysia
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