How did maid abuser get light sentence, asks Suhakam

Noel Achariam Noel Achariam Updated 8 years ago · Published on 20 Mar 2018 6:31PM · 2 Comments

Suhakam chairman Razali Ismail has questioned the light sentence handed down to a woman who had severely abused her maid, saying it shows the lack of legal protection for migrant domestic workers in the country. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Seth Akmal, March 20, 2018.

THE Malaysia Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) is perplexed as to how a woman was given a light sentence for abusing her domestic helper.

Suhakam chairman Razali Ismail said the commission was dissatisfied with the sessions court that has sentenced Rozita Mohd Ali to only be placed on a good behaviour bond for five years.

“A migrant worker has suffered severe physical mistreatment and violence at the hands of her employer.

“This decision raises questions of not only the injustice and inadequacies in the protections afforded under Malaysian law for migrant domestic workers, but apparent bias towards employers,” he said in statement today.

Last week, the sessions court ordered Rozita to be placed on a good behaviour bond for five years in surety of RM20,000 for causing grievous hurt to her Indonesian maid, Suyanti Sutrinso. Critics and lawyers said the sentencing was too lenient.

The 44-year-old was charged with voluntarily causing grievous hurt on Suyanti, 19, with a knife, mop, umbrella, iron rod and clothes hanger.

Razali also questioned the deputy public prosecutor’s (DPP) offer of a lesser charge when the injuries inflicted were so serious.

“The lesser charge and sentence can be interpreted as a gross application of selectivity which the public are complaining.”

Yesterday, Malaysia’s ambassador to Indonesia Zahrain Mohamed Hashim said that Indonesia is still willing to send its maids despite the recent spate of maid abuse cases.

He had said the recent incident involving Rozita has not sparked any outcry in Indonesia.

A petition on change.org that was set up on Saturday to demand an harsher sentence for Rozita has garnered more than 63,0000 clicks. – March 20, 2018.

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Comments

  • A housewife once abused her Indonesian maid and she was sentenced to 20years prison. This was a case form not too long ago. Remember the Nirmala Bonat case?her employer Yim Pek Ha is in prison now. The same sentence should be applied to this Datin

    Posted 8 years ago by Red Cicak · Reply

  • She is no common Malaysian. She is a DATIN. Today - gangster and samseng and drug dealers, conman or Pimps can buy latukship. With latukship they and spouse have the license to bash up Maids, Security Guards or motorist that honked them on the road. When Magistrate look at Datin - surely pee in his/her pants and give a slap on the wrist plus an apology.

    Posted 8 years ago by Chris Ng · Reply