BALIK PULAU – A woman in a viral video showing her splashing hot water on a man with Down’s syndrome in a lift was sentenced to 10 years in prison and fined RM6,000 today, in default 12 months jail, by the sessions court here for the offence.
Judge Ahzal Fariz Ahmad Khairuddin handed down the sentence to Oo Saw Kee, 39, after she pleaded guilty to causing grievous hurt to A. Solairaj, 33, by splashing hot water on him.
Oo, a sales promoter, was ordered to serve the jail sentence from today.
She was charged with voluntarily causing grievous hurt to the victim by splashing hot water on him in Lift No. 2, I-Park Apartment, Jalan Rajawali, Bayan Lepas, at 9.24am on April 19.
She was charged under Section 326 of the Penal Code which provides imprisonment for up to 20 years, a fine and whipping upon conviction.
Upon reading the sentence, Ahzal Fariz said the court found Oo’s act as a serious, inhumane and cruel offence against a person with disabilities (PwD), especially with no provocation by the latter.
The judge said the court shared the community’s sentiments and that the sentence imposed on the accused should serve as a reminder to the community not to repeat such acts against PwD.
Earlier, deputy public prosecutor Mohd Nordin Ismail, when requesting the court to impose a severe sentence, said the victim suffered burns on the back of his body, shoulders and neck and is still receiving treatment at Penang Hospital near here.
Lawyer Edric Loo, from the National Legal Aid Foundation represented Oo. – April 23, 2024