SHAH ALAM: The Magistrate's Court has maintained the condition of bail forbidding singer Ziana Zain's husband from meeting their child pending the disposal of the criminal case against him.
Magistrate Raja Noor Adilla Raja Mahyaldin made the ruling as it is in line with the bail terms already set by the court previously.
According to the condition of bail, Armin Zaharin Ahmad Zambri, 53, is also forbidden from approaching Ziana, whose real name is Siti Roziana Zain throughout the trial.
Raja Noor Adilla, however, did not make a ruling on whether Armin can meet his other three children as it falls under the purview of the Syariah Court.
Earlier, Armin, who was represented by attorney Mohd Rizal Bahari, made an oral request to meet his son, who was allegedly beaten by his father.
Present during the proceeding was Ziana’s attorney Luqman Mazlan.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Megat Mahathir Megat Tharif Afendi prosecuted the case.
The court set June 27 for case management.
On May 15, Armin was charged under Section 323 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt to his nine-year-old son.
According to the amended charge sheet, Armin is alleged to have used a cane to cause cuts and bruises on his son’s arms at their house in Denai Alam here, between 8pm and 10.30pm on Feb 24.
If convicted, the former chief steward of the national airlines can be punished with a jail term which may extend to one year, or a fine of up to RM2,000, or both.
Armin was initially charged under Section 324 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum 10 years' imprisonment or with a fine or whipping, or any two of the punishments on conviction, before the charge was amended to Section 324 read with 326A of the Penal Code.
Section 326A provides for twice the maximum jail sentence stated in Section 324.
Armin, however, maintained his not guilty plea which was recorded the first time he was charged on March 6.
The man was arrested on March 2 after Ziana lodged a police report on the incident on Feb 27.
Ziana, 50, and Armin, 58, tied the knot on May 9, 1998, and have four children.
The couple is undergoing divorce proceedings at the Shah Alam Syariah Lower Court.