WHO IS THIS CRUEL DATIN WHO BEAT HER INDONESIAN MAID SENSELESS? DID MALAYSIA’S DUBIOUS COURTS LET HER OFF BECAUSE OF HER ‘KETUANAN MELAYU’ OR DOES SHE HAVE SO MUCH MONEY SHE CAN BRIBE HER WAY THROUGH?

KUALA LUMPUR – The slap on the wrist punishment meted out by the Sessions Court on a Datin who admitted to severely abusing her teenage Indonesian maid has sparked widespread outrage, with the public questioning how one could get away without being sentenced to jail for such an offence.

As public anger mounts, lawmakers and the legal fraternity have also stepped in to voice their views on the case.

Attorney-General Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali – who was asked to comment on the case, said he was informed that a notice of appeal had been filed.

“I have instructed for an appeal to be filed against the inadequacy of the sentence.

“I have been told that the Notice of Appeal has been filed,” he said when contacted by the New Straits Times Press (NSTP) today.

Meanwhile, Wanita Umno chief Tan Sri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said lawmakers must relook at the provision of good behaviour bond in serious cases related to abuse or assault.

She said no one should get away scot free after committing such an act against another person.

“Notwithstanding the (court) decision, this is not a license for anybody to abuse someone else including your maid.

“The lawmakers must relook at the provision of good behaviour bond in serious cases such as this….(we have to see) if it commensurates with a serious crime.” she said.

It was reported that Rozita Mohamed Ali was initially charged with attempted murder of her Indonesian maid Suyanti Sutrinso, 19.

However, this was later reduced to voluntarily causing grievous hurt, under Section 326 of the Penal Code – which carries a maximum 20-years jail sentence.

The Datin, who pleaded guilty to the lesser offence, admitted causing multiple injuries, including to the eyes, hands, feet and internal organs of her maid.

She had used a kitchen knife, clothes hanger, mop handle and umbrella to inflict the injuries.

Despite the severity of the offence, Sessions Judge Mohammed Mokhzani Mokhtar let her off without any jail term and only sentenced her to a good behaviour bond of RM20,000 for five years.

This was despite deputy public prosecutor V.V Suloshani urging for an appropriate jail sentence on the grounds that the case received widespread coverage by international and local media.

He added that the incident was also widespread on social media after a video clip was uploaded on Dec 21. The clip showed Suyanti lying severely injured in a drain at Mutiara Damansara, when she was found by a security guard.

“It tarnished the image of our country in the eyes of the world. It also affected the good relations between Indonesia and Malaysia.

“The case is also among the nine most tragic domestic maid abuse cases in the country, and only a jail term is appropriate for such a despicable act, which is becoming more rampant,” he had argued.

Rozita’s lawyer, Datuk Rosal Azimin Ahmad, however argued that his client should be put on good behaviour bond on the grounds that she faced “heavy pressure and stress” after being charged in court.

Meanwhile, netizens were also in an uproar following news of the court decision

Twitter user Saladin expressed regret that despite the best effort of the deputy public prosecutor, Rozita escaped with just a slap on the wrist punishment.

“The DPP mentioned that this maid abuse case was one of the nine most tragic cases. Yet, she is not doing jail time…”

Facebook user Mohamad Fadzil Mustafa commented that the decision would imply that the laws of Malaysia were designed to protect the rich and suppress the poor.

He said it would further justify Malaysia’s awful ranking in the Corruption Perception Index 2017.

Another netizen, Christopher Chua, expressed disgust that the life of a Datin was more valuable than that of an Indonesian maid.

“A rich datin can do anything!!!” he commented.

Kennith Christopher Woon lamented that rich people in Malaysia seem to get away with anything.

“It is at present a sad state of affairs. The poor maid, no justice for her…the Indonesian government should make a complain,” he wrote.

Those in the legal profession too have expressed shock over the matter, with Penang-based lawyer Ramkarpal Singh saying the law no longer provided for a good behaviour bond in cases which involved serious offences, defined in the Penal Code as an offence punishable with imprisonment for a term of 10 years or more.

The Bukit Gelugor MP noted that Rozita was charged under Section 326, which falls into the category of ‘serious offence,’ and provides for a maximum 20-years jail.

– NST