KUALA LUMPUR: News on Sultan of Kelantan Sultan Muhammad V, 50, divorcing his wife, former Russian beauty pageant contestant Rihana Oksana, 26, after just a year of marriage has been confirmed.
The confirmation was made by Sultan Muhammad V’s lawyer, Koh Tien Hua, through the Singapore-based Eversheds Harry Elias LLP law firm.
NST today managed to obtain a copy of the letter from the law firm.
“Please be informed that HRH (His Royal Highness) has irrevocably divorced Ms Rihana Oksana Gorbatenko in June 22, 2019, by three Talaqs in accordance with Syariah laws and the Kelantan Syariah Court has issued a Divorce Certificate dated July 1, 2019, in accordance with the Islamic Family Law Enactment 2002.
“On behalf of HRH, we request that his privacy be respected,” the letter read.
The news confirmed the front page report by the New Straits Times on July 17, quoting sources, that the divorce was finalised on July 1 following the filing of documents at the Singapore Syariah Court on June 22.
The three talaqs is known as talaq baayin, or the irrevocable divorce, and it is the most severe forms of divorce in Islam. It stipulates that the couple cannot remarry unless the woman marries another man, and this man, of his own free will, divorces her or dies.
According to the law firm, a divorce letter had been sent to Rihana’s lawyers.
The Kelantan state government recently denied knowledge of the divorce and said it could only comment on the issue if there was an official statement from the palace.
NST previously reported that the divorce took place after a marriage of just over a year.
They were said to have married on June 7 last year and filed for their divorce at the Singapore Syariah Court in June.