No way out for maid abuser

PETALING JAYA: The Datin who escaped jail time for abusing her Indonesian domestic helper is barred from leaving the country said Datuk Seri Mustafar Ali.

The Immigration Department director-general said they received a court order to blacklist Datin Rozita Mohamad Ali.

“Based on our records, she is still in the country,” he said.

Rozita, 44, and her bailor, a Royal Malaysian Air Force official, failed to attend court proceedings to review her sentence on Wednesday.

On Wednesday, the High Court was told by Selangor prosecution director Muhamad Iskandar Ahmad that both could not be contacted.

DPP Muhammad Iskandar said they went to Rozita’s homes in Petaling Jaya and Melaka as well as the bailor’s home to serve the notice for them to appear in court, but no one was around.

He said attempts to serve the notice on Rozita and the bailor were made right until Tuesday night.

On March 15, Rozita was bound over for five years on a good behaviour bond of RM20,000 for causing grievous hurt to her maid Suyanti Sutrinso, 21.

Rozita was charged with using a kitchen knife, a steel mop and an umbrella to attack Suyanti at a house in Mutiara Damansara on June 21, 2016.

The maid suffered multiple injuries to her eyes, both legs, hands and internal organs. She also had a broken scapula, injuries to her right lung, a blood clot near her brain and a fracture cheek.

Rozita was initially charged with attempted murder.

She was later charged under Section 326 of the Penal Code for causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means.

Judge Mohammed Mokhzani Mokhtar meted out the sentence against Rozita after she pleaded guilty to the amended charge.

The case was covered by the international media and a video on it went viral on social media.

Deputy Public Prosecutor, VV Suloshani, who prosecuted, had said the case affected the country’s image and the good relations between Indonesia and Malaysia.

As of March 22, some 70,000 people have signed an online petition (https://www.change.org/p/dato-equal-justice) calling for justice to be served equally to the rich and poor.