SHAH ALAM: The High Court here today sentenced Rozita Mohamad Ali to eight years in prison for abusing her Indonesian maid two years ago.
The decision came after Judge Datuk Tun Abd Majid Tun Hamzah set aside the sessions court order sentencing her to be bound over for five years on a good behaviour bond of RM20,000.
On March 15, Petaling Jaya sessions court judge Mohammed Mokhzani Mokhtar let Rozita off with a mere good behaviour bond of five years, even though the prosecution had pressed for a jail sentence considering the severity of the crime.
Counsel Mohamed Haniff Khatri Abdulla, who represented the accused, pleaded for the minimum sentence on the grounds that his client is a housewife.
However, deputy public prosecutor Muhamad Iskandar Ahmad pressed for a deterrent sentence, stating that the case involved the public interest.
“This case also (strained) diplomatic relations between Malaysia and Indonesia,” he said.
Rozita had admitted to abusing Suyanti Sutrinso, 19, using a kitchen knife, a steel mop, a clothes hanger and an umbrella in 2016.
She caused multiple injuries to the victim’s head, hands, legs and internal organs between 7am and 12pm on Dec 21, 2016 at a house in Mutiara Damansara.
Rozita was initially charged under Section 307 of the Penal Code for attempted murder, which carries a maximum jail sentence of 20 years upon conviction.
However, the charge was later amended to causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means, under Section 326 of the Penal Code.
The accused pleaded guilty to the lesser charge and Mohammed Mokhzani sentenced her to be bound over for five years on a good behaviour bond of RM20,000.
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