CHEF WAN DISTRAUGHT OVER DAUGHTER SERINA'S DIVORCE
Lets go of both kids to live with Gavin
ACTRESS and television host Serina Redzuawan and her businessman husband Gavin Edward O’Luanaigh, whose Muslim name is Salahudin Ghafar, were granted a divorce at the Petaling District Syariah Court in Petaling Jaya yesterday.
Gavin pronounced the divorce with a single “talak” before syarie judge Nurul Hidayah Jani at 10.49am.
Chef Datuk Redzuawan Ismail, better known as Chef Wan, had lamented that his daughter, Serina, had “let go” of her children to live with Gavin.
In an Instagram post last Sunday, Chef Wan expressed regret that Serina had given custody of Tristan Tareef, 7, and Isabella Saffiya, 5, to Gavin, with the “excuse” that she did not want them to be traumatised by their divorce proceedings.
He said Serina, as a mother of two young children, should ensure that Tristan and Isabella were under her care, but she “refused to listen to (me)”.
“I offered to have her and the children stay at my old house in Ampang, or join me at my current residence in Cyberjaya, but she has allowed them to stay with Gavin,” said Chef Wan, adding that her move had been giving him sleepless nights.
Chef Wan said he reminded Serina of the importance of placing the youngsters in their mother’s care, telling her that she could not just “let go”.
“Gavin can still see the children, but Serina needs to exercise her right as a mother.
“I pray that she does not regret her decision.”
Serina, in an Instagram post yesterday, said that she had her reasons for allowing Tristan and Isabella to stay with their father, adding that she and Gavin had made arrangements to look after their children.
“Gavin and I have agreed to jointly look after them.
“When he works in the morning, I take care of them and that includes sending them to school.
“In the evening, Gavin looks after them, and they’ll spend the night in our old home because their room has just been renovated. I don’t see anything wrong with that.”
Serina slammed certain quarters who accused her of neglecting her children.
“I’m not neglecting my children. That’s malicious slander. I know what my responsibilities are,” she said.
Serina and Gavin’s divorce proceedings began in April. They were married on Jan 1, 2010.
“My children are my priority, and I’ll always be there for them.
“I love my babies very much.”
On July 27, the Syariah High Court of Shah Alam decided to grant custodianship of Tristan and Isabella to Gavin, based on an agreement made with Serina.
The court granted temporary custody of the children to Gavin, and Serina was given the right to visit them on weekends.