Is the marriage of the Sultan of Kelantan and ex-beauty queen Oksana really over?

Sultan of Kelantan Sultan Muhammad V, 50 has divorced his wife, Russian ex-beauty queen Rihana Oksana, 26 after a year of marriage.

Koh Tien Hua, the sultan’s lawyer confirmed it through the Singapore-based Eversheds Harry Elias LLP law firm.

The New Straits Times 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 Talaq 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.

On Jul 17, a front page report by the New Straits Times reported that the divorce was finalised on July 1 following the filing of the documents at the Singapore Syariah Court on Jun 22.

In Islam the three talaqs are known as the talaq baayin or irrevocable divorce and it is the most severe form of divorce in Islam.

The couple cannot remarry unless the woman marries another man, and this man, of his own free will divorces her or dies.

A divorce letter had been sent to Rihana’s lawyers.

It’s been reported that the Kelantan state government denied knowledge of the divorce and can only comment on the issue if there is an official statement from the palace.

New Straits Times previously reported that the divorce took place after a year of marriage.

They were said to have married on June 7 last year and filed for their divorce at the Singapore Syariah Court in June.

However, Oksana denies that she has been divorced by her husband.

After a copy of the divorce certificate went viral on social media, Oksana denied being divorced.

She said she was not in Singapore last month when the talaq was pronounced.

“Personally, I have never heard any ‘talaq’ announced against me. I am in Russia with my son. We never stopped in Singapore in June to divorce,” she was reported as saying.