Datin escapes jail for severely injuring her Indonesian maid

PETALING JAYA:  A Datin escaped jail time for causing severe injuries to her Indonesian maid.

Datin Rozita Mohamad Ali was instead sentenced to a good behaviour bond for five years by the Sessions Court here.

Previously, Rozita had been charged with attempted murder of her maid, Suyanti Sutrinso, using a kitchen knife, a steel mop, a clothes hanger and an umbrella.

The alleged offence happened two years ago when the maid was 19-years-old at a house in Mutiara Damansara here.

The charge was under Section 307 of the Penal Code, which had a maximum jail sentence of 20 years, if convicted.

A total of 10 prosecution witnesses were called to give evidence in the trial which began on May 9 last year.

Rozita had allegedly caused multiple injuries to the victim's head, hands, legs and internal organs between 7am and 12pm on Dec 21, 2016.

The charge was amended to "causing grievous hurt" by dangerous weapons or means under Section 326 of the Penal Code.

After Rozita pleaded guilty to this lesser charge, Judge Mohammed Mokhzani Mokhtar sentenced her to be bound over for five years on a good behaviour bond of RM20,000.

Deputy Public Prosecutor V. Suloshani urged the court to mete out a jail sentence to serve as a deterrent against the accused, adding that the incident had gone viral in social media.

However, Rozita's lawyer, Datuk Rosal Azimin Ahmad, applied for the good behaviour bond as his client had suffered from extreme pressure and stress after she was charged in court.

"My client has repented," he said.

Earlier, Judge Mokhzani said the sentence did not mean that she has been freed but she was still bound to the court for the stipulated time frame.

The prosecution filed an appeal against the judgement on Thursday.