More than 40,000 sign petition over datin’s case
> Call for equal justice for rich and poor
PUTRAJAYA: An online petition calling for equal justice for the rich and poor has been posted and signed by more than 40,000 signatories following a case in the sessions court.
The court had given a datin a five-year good behaviour bond for abusing her Indonesian domestic worker.
The petition on change.org, initiated by an unidentified person going by the pseudonym “Equal Justice for Malaysians” on Saturday, is seeking 50,000 signatures before being forwarded to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.
As of press time, the petition had garnered 45,293 signatures.
“We call for equal justice for the rich and poor. The crime by the datin towards her maid is despicable, inhumane and clearly should result in stricter punishment than a ‘good behaviour bond’.
“She should be charged with attempted murder or intent to cause serious bodily harm.
“We elected a government that should not have any influence in our justice system. Even if she’s a datin, rich and has connections, it doesn’t give her the right to treat people like that. What message are we sending to our people and children? Malaysia needs to seriously look at our human rights issue,” the petition stated.
Datin Rozita Mohamad Ali was sentenced by the Petaling Jaya sessions court last Thursday after being charged with abusing then 19-year-old Suyanti Sutrinso in 2016 using a kitchen knife, a steel mop, a clothes hanger and an umbrella.
Sessions judge Mohammed Mokhzani Mokhtar sentenced her to be bound over for five years on a good behaviour bond of RM20,000.
According to the charge sheet, Rozita had caused multiple injuries to the victim’s head, hands, legs and internal organs between 7am and 12pm on Dec 21, 2016 in a house in Mutiara Damansara.
Suyanti was badly injured in the eyes, hands, legs and internal organs, suffered a blood clot under the skin on the head, bleeding spots on the forehead, a broken cheek bone, jaw and left shoulder as well as injury to the right lung.
It was reported that Rozita was initially charged under Section 307 of the Penal Code for attempted murder, which carries a maximum jail sentence of 20 years. However, the charge was later amended.
Meanwhile, the Shah Alam High Court will hear an application tomorrow to review the sentence against Rozita.