Malay prince sues Indonesian wife

Page last updated at 07:02 GMT, Tuesday, 21 July 2009 08:02 UK



A Malaysian prince is suing his Indonesian wife and her mother over their claims he tortured his teenage bride during their year-long marriage.



Tengku Temenggong Tengku Mohammad Fakhry, has filed a defamation suit in Malaysia's High Court.



He is seeking $30m (£18m) in damages from Manohara Odelia Pinot and her mother, the prince's lawyer said.



Ms Pinot returned to Indonesia in May and said Mr Fakhry had slashed her with razor blades and sexually abused her.



The 17-year-old alleged she had been held captive in her room and drugged whenever she complained.



She told Indonesian media that she escaped while accompanying the state royal family on a trip to Singapore and filed a police report in Indonesia shortly afterward.



The scandal has captured widespread media attention in both Malaysia and Indonesia.



'Reputation tarnished'



Mr Fakhry's lawsuit accuses Ms Pinot and her mother, Daisy Fajarina, of concocting the allegations "out of spite... motivated by a desire of financial gains," the prince's lawyer, Mohamad Haaziq Pillay, said.



"They have made my client out to be a monster and his reputation has been tarnished. My client is keen to get to the truth of the matter and clear his name," he told the Associated Press.



"Anyone can say anything but do they have proof? This is the time for them to come forward and prove their allegations," Malaysian state news agency Bernama quoted Mr Pillay as saying.



The two women, who are in Indonesia, have 21 days to respond to the suit, or the case could go on in their absence.



The prince married the teenager last year after she turned 16, but her mother has said Ms Manohara was kidnapped.



The prince has since petitioned for a divorce.