PUTRAJAYA: In the early hours of May 4, 2021, a man beat up his pregnant wife and the assault left her in a coma.
Yesterday, exactly five years later, Rosmaini Abd Raof was sentenced to the harshest possible term allowed by the law – 14 years in jail – for assaulting his now ex-wife Jahidah Nordin, 48, who is a former wildlife enforcement officer.
The Court of Appeal also ordered Rosmaini to pay RM25,000 in compensation to the victim through her sibling, or face a further six months’ imprisonment in default.
A three-member panel comprising Justices Azman Abdullah, Noorin Badaruddin and Mohd Radzi Abdul Hamid dismissed the man’s appeal to overturn his conviction and instead allowed the prosecution’s cross-appeal to increase the jail sentence from 10 to 14 years, the maximum under Sections 325 and 326A of the Penal Code.
Rosmaini, 43, was ordered to begin serving his sentence from yesterday.
He had previously been released on RM25,000 bail pending the outcome of his appeal.
Rosmaini was convicted of intentionally causing grievous hurt to Jahidah at an apartment in Kampung Aman, Larkin, Johor Baru, at about 6am on May 4, 2021.
Delivering the judgment, Justice Noorin said the original 10-year sentence was insufficient given the devastating impact of the injuries, which amounted to the destruction of the victim’s life.
She said the victim now survives without the ability to function meaningfully.
The court held that the maximum sentence was warranted in light of the extreme violence involved, the permanent and severe consequences suffered by the victim, her pregnancy at the time, the impact on the child born, and the public interest in curbing domestic violence.
“The facts reveal a brutal and sustained assault by a husband on his pregnant wife.
“The level of violence was so severe that the victim remains in a persistent vegetative state to this day,” she said, Bernama reported.
Noorin noted that the victim impact evidence described the woman as a “living corpse”, requiring full-time care for years with no hope of recovery and complete dependence on others for basic needs.
“The consequences of Rosmaini’s actions extend beyond the victim to the child she was carrying. The child suffers from developmental delays and disabilities as a result of the incident.
“This case involves the destruction of two lives,” Justice Noorin added.
The court also found that Rosmaini’s action in contacting a former neighbour for help, admitting to a quarrel, avoiding involvement at the hospital and absconding for a prolonged period, indicated consciousness of guilt rather than the actions of an innocent person facing a medical emergency.
Medical evidence showed the victim suffered extensive injuries, including intracranial bleeding, multiple fractures and severe trauma consistent with repeated assaults.
On Dec 9, 2024, the Sessions Court convicted Rosmaini and sentenced him to 10 years’ imprisonment.
The High Court upheld the decision on Nov 4, 2025.
