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Singer Aliff Aziz faces jail term for stealing from Indonesian actress in Singapore hotel

Singaporean actor and singer Aliff Aziz had earlier pleaded guilty to theft and disorderly behaviour. He will be sentenced on 15 September. (PHOTOS: Twitter video screenshot, Aliff Aziz/Instagram)
Singaporean actor and singer Aliff Aziz had earlier pleaded guilty to theft and disorderly behaviour. He will be sentenced on 15 September. (PHOTOS: Twitter video screenshot, Aliff Aziz/Instagram)

SINGAPORE — Singaporean actor-singer Aliff Aziz, popular across the Causeway for his Malay love songs, is facing a jail term after a district court on Monday (14 September) heard that he had not been found suitable for a Mandatory Treatment Order, or MTO.

The 29-year-old pleaded guilty in August to one charge each of theft in dwelling and disorderly behaviour. Theft in any building which is used as a human dwelling carries a mandatory jail term of up to seven years, along with a possible fine.

Aliff’s lawyer, Senior Counsel Murali Pillai, told Principal District Judge Victor Yeo that he would be arguing for a short jail term and a fine.

The judge acceded to Deputy Public Prosecutor Pavithra Ramkumar’s request to adjourn sentencing to Tuesday. Aliff also admitted to another count of theft, which will be considered in sentencing as part of his plea bargain.

The MTO is a community sentencing option for offenders with mental conditions, who must attend compulsory treatment sessions with psychiatrists for up to three years in lieu of jail.

Stole money from Indonesian celebrity

The court earlier heard that at around midnight on 7 June last year, Aliff met Indonesian celebrity Raja Yunika Perdhana Putri at her room in Studio M Hotel. The pair discussed how she might help him further his singing career in Indonesia.

When she went to the second level of her hotel room to rest, Aliff stole 1 million Indonesian Rupiah (S$92) and $300 from her handbag on the first floor and left. He changed the foreign currency and spent the money on food and transport.

Raja Yunika found the money missing when she woke up at around 3am. She called Aliff, who denied the theft. She then made a police report.

Drunken behaviour near Orchard Towers

The singer-actor got into trouble with the law again when he was found drunk and behaving in a disorderly manner outside Orchard Towers at about 6.25am on 10 November last year.

Two policemen saw a commotion under a link bridge at about 5.30am. Aliff, who was intoxicated, was seen shouting and gesticulating wildly while surrounded by a crowd of people, some of whom were trying to calm him down.

The officers asked Aliff to calm down and he complied. They followed him as he walked off to keep an eye on him.

At about 6.25am, they spotted Aliff behaving in a rowdy manner again – he kicked the left front portion of a taxi, which was not damaged. This time, Aliff did not heed the officers’ instructions to calm down. He later ran into an acquaintance on the street and got into a scuffle with him.

Aliff was then arrested. A video of the incident uploaded online went viral.

Won singing competition at just 16

In 2007, at just 16, Aliff became the youngest winner of free-to-air Malay TV channel Suria's singing competition Anugerah. He later appeared in Mediacorp shows.

After serving his full-time national service, he pursued a successful singing and acting career in Malaysia.

But it was his rocky marriage to Malaysian singer-actress Bella Astillah, rumours of extra-marital affairs and subsequent divorce that grabbed headlines recently.

His wife, Malaysian actress Bella Astillah, with whom he has a three-year-old son, divorced him in May last year after telling a court, “My husband always cheats on me.”

But they later reconciled, and Bella gave birth to their daughter in Malaysia in July.

On Monday, Aliff’s younger sister, Aisyah Aziz, herself a popular singer-actress, accompanied him to the State Courts.

The punishment for behaving in a disorderly manner in public, for a first conviction, is a fine of up to $2,000 and/or a jail term of up to six months.

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