JOHOR BARU: A trader charged with severely assaulting his then pregnant wife over two years ago has been ordered to enter his defence.
The woman, now divorced from him, is paralysed after being in a coma for some time.
Yesterday, Sessions Court judge Fatimah Zahari ordered Rosmaini Abd Raof to enter his defence after finding that the prosecution had proven a prima facie case against the 41-year-old.
The accused was given three options to conduct his defence – testify under oath from the witness stand; give a statement from the dock; or remain silent, in which case the court must proceed to convict him.
Lawyer TC Lim informed the court that his client would testify under oath from the witness stand.
Rosmaini is charged with causing serious injuries to Jahidah Nordin @ Sylvester, 46, who was expecting their first child then, by stomping on her and hitting her on the head, face and hands.
He allegedly committed the offence at around 6am on May 4, 2021 in a flat at Kampung Aman in Larkin here.
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The charge under Section 325/326A of the Penal Code carries a maximum 14-year jail term, upon conviction.
Fatimah set Jan 24 for the case to be mentioned.
Deputy public prosecutor Bari’ah Jalil appeared for the prosecution while Muhammad Hazeem Mohd Norizan held a watching brief on behalf of Jahidah’s family.
Bernama previously reported that the victim had part of her skull removed due to bleeding and there were fractures to the jaw, backbone and rib cage.
Jahidah fell into a coma and later delivered her baby by caesarean on Nov 30, 2021, at Hospital Tuanku Ja’afar.
Sinar Harian reported that on March 14 last year, the Seremban Syariah Lower Court granted Jahidah’s application for a fasakh, which is the dissolution of marriage on permitted grounds under the Islamic Family Law (Federal Territories) Act 1984.
Jahidah’s sister, Fauziah Nordin, filed the application on Feb 1, 2023.