KUALA LUMPUR: Actor and director Opie Zami and his wife of 17 years Zamzarina Mohamed, ended their marriage at the Federal Territories Lower Syariah Court today.
Opie, 46, divorced Zamzarina, 43, with a single talak before Syarie Judge Ahmad Mahir Zanial at 10.47am.
Opie, whose real name is Mohd Soupi Azmi said that both parties had agreed to a divorce as the best way to resolve their differences.
However, the comedian, best known for playing bumbling mechanic Mat Rock in the comedy series Spanar Jaya and its sequel Spanar Jaya X, declined to reveal the cause of his divorce.
"We prefer to keep it private," he said, adding that he blamed himself for the failure of his marriage.
"It's not her fault. As the head of the family, I failed in my duty as a husband to make my wife an exemplary life partner."
Opie, the son of the late comedian Zami Ismail who played Pak Uda in the comedy series Pi Mai Pi Mai Tang Tu, and Zamzarina had been living apart since Aug 3.
He said that he had allowed Zamzarina to obtain custody of their three children Ammar Shah Saidi, 15, Aliff Shah Syedi, 13, and Arrif Shah Saidi, 8.
"I believe our three boys are best looked after by their mother, with visiting rights for me."
Zamzarina who filed for the divorce, was represented by lawyer Azmanira Ismail.
She said that it was not the first time she had filed for divorce.
"Our marital problems started 10 years ago, and I this is the third time I've gone to the court," she said, adding that she accepted the end of her marriage in good faith.
Opie and Zamzarina tied the knot on Dec 5, 2003.