PETALING JAYA — Muhammad Nagahswaran Muniandy, the ex-husband of Loh Siew Hong, has died at age 38, confirmed by Loh’s lawyer.

He had been involved in a long custody dispute and was facing trial for alleged domestic violence against Loh in 2019.

The custody battle began in 2020 after Nagahswaran, a Muslim convert, took their three children to Perlis and converted them without Loh’s consent. Courts had already granted Loh full custody by March 2021, following an interim order in 2019. Their divorce was finalized in September 2021.

In 2022, Loh successfully regained custody via a habeas corpus order. The Federal Court ruled in 2024 that both parents must consent to a child's religious conversion, confirming the children remain Hindus. A Perlis government appeal to overturn this was dismissed.Nagahswaran had a prior drug conviction and was facing a trial this September for allegedly abusing Loh. He had pleaded not guilty and was out on RM10,000 bail.