The 52-year-old man said his then wife started spending more time with the former therapist, Mohd Razif Radi (pictured). - Photo: Kelvin Chng
SINGAPORE: A former massage therapist accused of teaching a doctrine contrary to Islamic laws had initially started out as a family friend, a man testified in court on Wednesday (Oct 9).
The 52-year-old man said his then wife later started spending more time with the former therapist, Mohd Razif Radi, 67.
The witness, who cannot be named due to a gag order, told District Judge Shaiffudin Saruwan that in 2015, he found a note on his then wife’s iPad stating that she had to “let go” of him to become Razif’s spouse.
He told the court that he also found out through the notes that Razif was looking for 13 wives. The couple, who have two daughters together, divorced two years later.
According to court documents, Razif, who has never been recognised as an Islamic teacher under the Asatizah Recognition Scheme, allegedly taught his followers that gambling could be made permissible and that a man and woman could be validly married through a “spiritual marriage”.
The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) states on its website that gambling is prohibited in Islam.
Razif, a Singaporean, is represented by lawyer Simon Tan. He is also accused of claiming to be able to summon the spirit of Mbah, who was purportedly Prophet Muhammad or from the Prophet’s lineage.
Responding to queries from Deputy Public Prosecutor Hidayat Amir, the witness said his brother had introduced him to Razif in 2002 as Razif was skilled in giving massages.
Razif later visited the couple’s Clementi home to help the man with back problems and met the man’s then wife.
Over time, she and Razif worked on a project involving frozen food, but the witness did not sense anything suspicious at first.
The witness also said that around 2004 to 2005, she asked him to buy 4-D for her.
He told the court: “I was shocked... This was not Islamic at all. She told me she wanted to buy (based on) predictions from Razif... I was quite angry (and) did not expect this to come from her.”
But he thought this was a “one-time” matter, and she would not do it again.
The man also noted that his then wife had become more brazen, assertive and superstitious.
The court heard that she started attending meetings with Razif on Fridays and would often return home in the early hours of the next day.
She claimed the meetings were held to help the community, said the witness, who also recalled an occasion when she held Razif’s hand and kissed it.
He told the court: “She should not do that as he was not part of our (family)... It’s wrong. They are not blood relatives... I find it shocking to see that action coming from her.”
The man said when he confronted her, she told him that if he did not know anything, he should “shut up”.
He then spoke to her brother, and they had a family meeting with her and her other siblings.
“(During the meeting, she) said I was not supportive of her ‘mission’ and she wanted to end our marriage... I was totally shocked,” he said.
“I tried to speak to her and think about our family... But she was adamant... She wanted to end the marriage as soon as possible.”
In September 2015, the man found the woman’s iPad and looked at its contents, the first time that he had done so, he told the court.
He said he found some notes on the device and snapped pictures of them. Among other things, the notes stated that Razif needed 13 wives and that the man’s then wife had to “let go” of her husband.
The witness said he did not confront her, as he thought she would then question why he had gone through her belongings.
The couple divorced in 2017. One daughter stayed with him and the other went with her mother.
He testified that one of their daughters has a history of anxiety-related issues and had sought medical treatment.
The witness later found out from his former wife’s brother that Razif had told the daughter he could cure her anxiety and subjected her to a “bathing ritual”.
He told the court his daughter did not tell him about the incident because her mother had told her not to.
As part of the ritual, the daughter had to wear a sarong and her mother told her that Razif would bathe her. But the daughter insisted on bathing herself.
Razif then said some prayers and touched her arms, the man told the court.
The witness said he alerted Muis about Razif in 2015 before deciding to speak to the media, as he felt that he did not get much help from Muis.
When cross-examined by Tan, the man admitted that he had never attended Razif’s classes nor heard him preach deviant teachings.
The trial resumes on Oct 10. - The Straits Times/ANN
