Sales promoter sentenced to 10 years for splashing hot water on man with down syndrome

MALAYSIA: A sales promoter, who was caught on video splashing hot water on a man with Down syndrome last Friday (19 April), faced sentencing in the Sessions Court on Tuesday (23 Apr), receiving a 10-year jail term.

Oo Saw Kee, 39, was also fined RM6,000 (US$1,256) in default of 12 months’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to the offence, as reported by New Straits Time.

Judge Ahzal Fariz Ahmad Khairuddin delivered the judgment, emphasizing the seriousness and cruelty of Oo’s actions, particularly towards a disabled individual.

He added that Oo had done what she did without any form of provocation.

Ahzal highlighted that the sentence aimed not only to penalize the accused but also to serve as a deterrent against similar actions targeting disabled individuals.

Oo promptly admitted to the offence during the court proceedings, acknowledging her guilt in intentionally inflicting serious injury on 33-year-old A. Solairaj by splashing hot water on him inside an elevator at a Bayan Lepas apartment complex on 19 April.

She was charged under Section 326 of the Penal Code, which is punishable by a prison sentence of up to 20 years and subject to a fine or whipping as well, upon conviction.

Lawyer Edric Loo, who acted pro bono for Oo, pleaded for a minimal jail sentence from the date of his client’s arrest.

He also told the court that Oo works as a promoter, earning RM1,500 (US$314) monthly, with no one under her care.

State prosecution director Mohd Nordin Ismail, meanwhile, pressed for a heavy sentence, saying that the offence committed by Oo was ‘very serious and cruel’, more so involving a disabled person.

Mohd Nordin said the incident went viral, with the majority of comments criticizing the actions of the accused.

Both of the accused and victim, said Mohd Nordin, were living in the same apartment block since 2014, but not known to one another.

“The victim may be disabled and weak, but that does not mean that society should shun him. Instead, society should help these people,” he said.

Mohd Nordin said the victim is still being treated for the burns on his right shoulder, back, and neck.

He also openly read out a witness impact statement by the victim’s sister, A. Krishna Armi, 23, who wanted a harsh punishment for the pain her brother was going through.

“It saddens and pains me to see my brother’s condition now, with burn marks on various parts of his body. His movement is restricted, and he often cries out in pain. He could not sleep or rest like normal,” she said.

Krishna Armi said what happened to her brother had taken a toll on the whole family, especially since they are not a well-to-do family.

“We want a harsh punishment to serve as a lesson to everyone out there for the scar my brother has to live with all his life. We fear that a lenient sentence will lead to possible revenge by the accused in future as we are staying in the same area,” she said.

The incident, captured in a 20-second video that circulated widely on social media, sparked widespread condemnation, with many expressing outrage at the assault on a vulnerable member of society.