SHAH ALAM, March 21 — Prosecutors were unable to locate Datin Rozita Mohamad Ali whose sentence they are appealing or the person who acted as her surety, the High Court was told today.
Selangor prosecution head Muhamad Iskandar Ahmad said he and his team went to two homes listed to Rozita, 44, in Petaling Jaya, Selangor and Melaka, and found both vacant.
“We also went to (the) address of the bailor.
“First there were problems and then we entered the home, and the bailor’s home was empty,” Iskandar told the judge hearing the appeal against Rozita’s non-custodial sentence for causing grievous harm to an Indonesian domestic worker using a weapon.
He added that his team also went twice to the bailor’s home.
Iskandar told Judge Datuk Seri Tun Abd Majid Tun Hamzah that he then resorted to paste a notice on the door of the bailor’s home, to inform him to be present for Rozita’s sentencing review today.
Tun Abd Majid then questioned the prosecution on the terms of Rozita’s good behaviour bond given by the Sessions Court and if it allowed for change of addresses.
Deputy public prosecutor (DPP) V. Sulochani, answered in the negative.
“When the decision was pronounced, nothing was stated on the change of address, Your Honour.
“If she violates the bond within the five-year period, the order will be set aside. That’s all that was said,” Sulochani added.
Iskandar then told the court that the prosecution is not privy to the details of Rozita’s bond, as it is yet to be released to them.
“I have not received an explanatory notice from the lower court, Your Honour,” added Iskandar.
Tun Abd Majib then gave the prosecution one week to track down Rozita and produce her and her bailor in court, and set March 29 for the sentencing review.
When met outside the court, Iskandar told the press that his team had made many attempts to find Rozita and her bailor, but were not able to locate them, adding that calls to the bailor’s mobile phone also went unanswered.
He added that Rozita’s defence team had also only informed him late yesterday, that they were no longer representing her.
“No, no still around, still around,” he however said, when asked if the bailor had fled.
He also expressed confidence that the housewife and her bailor, who’s name was not revealed, can be found, saying that they were still in Kuala Lumpur.
On March 15, the Petaling Jaya Sessions Court ordered Rozita to be placed on a good behaviour bond for five years with surety of RM20,000.
She pleaded guilty to a charge under Section 326 of the Penal Code of abusing Indonesian Suyanti Sutrinso, then 19, with a kitchen knife, a steel mop, a clothes hanger, and an umbrella in December 2016.
The woman reportedly suffered injuries to her head, hands, legs and internal organs.
Rozita could have been given up to 20 years’ imprisonment, a fine, and whipped.
The non-custodial sentence drew flak from the public and rights groups, while Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh described the bond as illegal.
Attorney-General Tan Sri Apandi Ali then told Malay Mail that his office had filed a notice of appeal against the Sessions Court’s decision.
