High Court To Decide On Reviewing Sentence Against Datin Who Abused Her Maid
On 15 March, Datin Rozita Mohamad Ali was released on a "good behaviour bond" after having repented for abusing her maid.
By Katrina Khairul Azman — 20 Mar 2018, 05:03 PM
Tomorrow, 21 March, the High Court in Shah Alam will hear an application to review the sentence against Datin Rozita, who pleaded guilty to causing grievous hurt to her maid
According to The Star, this was confirmed by Selangor prosecution director Muhammad Iskandar Ahmad, who said that a notice of urgency was filed yesterday before a Shah Alam High Court deputy registrar.
On 15 March, the prosecution filed a notice of appeal after the Petaling Jaya Sessions Court placed Datin Rozita on a good behaviour bond for five years with a surety of RM20,000.
The decision by Judge Mohammed Mokhzani Mokhtar subsequently sparked nationwide outrage.
Since the Datin escaped jail time for having "repented", over 60,000 people have signed a petition demanding equal justice for rich and poor alike
The petition, started by "Equal Justice For Malaysians" on Saturday, met its target for 50,000 signatures just before 7pm yesterday, 19 March.
The petition text read, "What message are we sending to our people and children? Malaysia needs to seriously look at our human rights issues."
According to the website, the petition was to be forwarded to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.
Two years ago, Datin Rozita was charged with abusing then 19-year-old Suyanti Sutrinso using a kitchen knife, a steel mop, a clothes hanger, and an umbrella
On 21 December 2016, Rozita caused multiple injuries to the victim’s head, hands, legs, and internal organs at a house in Mutiara Damansara, Petaling Jaya.
The Datin was initially charged under Section 307 of the Penal Code with attempted murder, facing life imprisonment or up to 20 years in jail.However, the charge was later amended to causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means under Section 326 of the Penal Code which carries imprisonment of up to 20 years.
When contacted, the Indonesian Embassy revealed that it would respect and monitor the court process as it was still ongoing
"The embassy will not interfere and is confident that the Malaysian legal process will prevail," the embassy told The Star.
According to The Malaysian Insight, Malaysian ambassador to Indonesia Zahrain Mohamed Hashim said that, "I think what the Attorney-General’s Chambers did is the right thing to do, which is to appeal (the sentence)."