Awie's wife penalised for being late to court

The wife of singer Awie was on Wednesday ordered to pay RM500 by the Syariah High Court for arriving late for the custody case of their three children.

Syariah Judge Mohd Amran Mat Zain made ​​the order when he found that Rozana Misbun, 36, and her lawyer, Majdah Muda, were absent when proceedings began.

Mohd Amran said the court took the matter seriously as their absence could affect court proceedings and justice to the parties concerned.

Rozana appeared alongside her lawyer 20 minutes later saying she had to submit documents related to the case at the court's counter.

Despite the explanation, the judge upheld the decision and ordered Rozana to pay RM500 as cost to Awie, whose real name is Ahmad Azhar Othman, 46.

Majdah had filed an application to quash the decision of Syariah High Court Judge Nassir Abdul Aziz who gave temporary custody of the three children to Awie on July 21.

However, Awie's lawyer, Datuk Mohd Zaidi Mohd Zain disagreed and objected to the application.

The court set Sept 17 for submissions and will decide the matter on the following day.

Awie and Rozana who married in Songkhla, Thailand on June 20, 2005 have three children, Putra Ahmad Merrah, 7, Putra Ahmad Rezzki, 6, and Puteri Qasseh Antasha, 4.

On July 4, Awie was charged by the Magistrate's Court with voluntarily causing grievous hurt to Rozana at a house in Taman Ukay Bistari.

He was charged under Section 325 of the Penal Code which carries a maximum seven years jail sentence and a fine upon conviction.