Actor Aliff Aziz, actress Ruhainies plead not guilty to close proximity charges

Singaporean actor Aliff Aziz. Photo from Aliff’s Instagram

Aliff and Ruhainies entered their pleas before the Federal Territory Syariah High Court in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday, according to The Star.

“I understand the charge. I plead not guilty,” Aliff declared.

After hearing the charges against her, Ruhainies, 32, also pleaded not guilty. “I understand. I plead not guilty and request a trial,” she stated.

Aliff and Ruhainies were arrested on March 9 on charges of khalwat after being found together at Ruhainies’ apartment in Kuala Lumpur. Khalwat refers to a situation where a man and a woman who are not married or related by blood are found together in private.

The trial has been postponed to October 12, and the bail for both has been extended, mStar reported.

They were charged under two sections of the Syariah Criminal Offenses Act 1997, which carry a maximum penalty of RM3,000 (US$637) or up to two years in prison, or both, if found guilty, according to Channel News Asia.

Aliff, 33, married 30-year-old Malaysian singer Bella Astillah in 2016. Bella filed for divorce after his arrest in March, and their divorce was finalized on June 13 in a Kuala Lumpur court.

This is Aliff’s second divorce from Bella; they first separated in May 2019 amid allegations of his infidelity, but reconciled in 2020.