'Datin' placed on good behaviour bond after pleading guilty to abusing maid

PETALING JAYA: A "Datin" who is a housewife was bound over for five years on a good behaviour bond of RM20,000 by the sessions court for causing grievous injuries to her maid two years ago.
Rozita Mohamad Ali, 44, was sentenced by the court after she changed her plea and pleaded guilty to causing grievous injuries to Suyanti Sutrinso, 19, after a video of the incident went viral on social media.
During the incident, the accused used a kitchen knife, a clothes hanger, a steel mop and an umbrella, causing multiple injuries to the victim's head, hands, legs and internal organs.
The incident took place at Jalan PJU 7/30, Mutiara Damansara on June 21, 2016 between 7am to 12 noon.
She was charged under Section 326 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing grievous hurt to Suyanti.
The Section provides for a maximum 20-year prison term and a fine.
Deputy Public Prosecutor V. Suloshini asked the court to mete out a deterrent sentence, as the case had garnered international media coverage after the video went viral on social media.
"This jeopardised the country's image internationally as well as affected the relationship between Indonesia and Malaysia. This was also among the nine most tragic maid abuse cases in Malaysia. Only a heavy jail sentence would fit this horrendous crime that is becoming more rampant," she told the court.
Lawyer Datuk Rosal Azimin Ahmad who represented the accused appealed for a good behaviour bond on humanitarian grounds as the accused went through tremendous pressure and stress after being charged in court.
"She also truly regrets what she has done and cooperated well with the police during the investigations," he told the court.
On Dec 21, 2016, Suyanti was found lying by a drain seriously injured by a security guard who told a resident in the neighbourhood.
The victim was then taken to a clinic nearby.
Suyanti sustained multiple injuries to her eyes, both her legs, her hands and internal organs.
She also suffered a broken scapula and injuries to her right lung as well as a blood clot near her brain and a fracture to her cheek.