PETALING JAYA: Singer Aliff Aziz and actress Ruhainies have changed their plea and admitted guilt to the charge of khalwat at the Syariah High Court of the Federal Territory here on February 21.
The Syariah Prosecution Department of the Federal Territory confirmed this in a statement on Thursday (Feb 27), stating that both celebrities had paid a fine of RM3,000 last Friday.
"At the previous mention date on October 17, 2024, the court had set the dates of February 20 and February 27 for the continuation of the trial after both of them pleaded not guilty.
"However, the defendants' syariah lawyer, in a letter dated February 18, informed that both clients intended to change their plea and requested the court to amend the date to February 21.
"After the charge was read again, both changed their plea to guilty. Based on their guilty plea, the Syariah High Court judge found them guilty and imposed a fine of RM3,000 or three months in jail if the fine is not paid," the statement said which was reported by Sinar Harian.
Earlier, Aliff, whose full name is Mohammad Aliff Aziz, 33, and Ruhainies, whose full name is Nur Ruhainies Farehah Zainul Ilyas, 31, pleaded not guilty during the hearing on July 3, 2024 after being charged under Sections 27 (a) and 27 (b) of the Syariah Criminal Offenses (Federal Territories) Act 1997 [Act 559] for khalwat offenses.
Media reports previously said that the married artist and his partner, a female actress, were caught in close proximity after allegedly cohabiting in a luxury condominium.
Sources reported that the arrest was made by the Federal Territory Islamic Religious Department based on public information.
