'I'm no longer his lawyer': Kamal Hisham drops wife-beater Rosmaini's case
He is expected to face similar charges involving his third wife this Thursday.
PUTRAJAYA - Businessman Rosmaini Abdul Raof, who was recently ordered to serve 14 years in prison for assaulting his ex-wife into a coma, is expected to face similar charges involving his third wife at the Sungai Petani Court in Kedah this Thursday.
The new charges reportedly involve an incident where his third wife suffered a miscarriage.
However, lawyer Kamal Hisham Ja’afar announced that his firm will no longer represent the 43-year-old in future proceedings.
"Previously, out of professionalism, I agreed to defend Rosmaini until the final stage at the Court of Appeal. However, this was misinterpreted by the public, to the extent that the legal team was vilified," Kamal Hisham told Sinar Harian.
He clarified that he had represented Rosmaini on a pro bono basis after the convict’s first wife and children pleaded for assistance.
"With this appeal concluded, I am no longer representing Rosmaini, including for any future cases," he added.
Rosmaini is currently held at Kajang Prison and will be transported to Kedah to face the upcoming charges.
Regarding the Court of Appeal's decision on Monday to increase his sentence from 10 to 14 years, Kamal Hisham said his client accepted the ruling with an open heart, though he continues to deny the allegations involving his ex-wife, Jahidah Nordin.
The lawyer confirmed that Rosmaini will not be filing a review at the Federal Court.
Today, a three-judge panel chaired by Court of Appeal Judge Datuk Azman Abdullah, sitting with Datuk Noorin Badaruddin and Datuk Mohd Radzi Abdul Hamid, allowed the prosecution’s appeal for a maximum sentence.
The court also ordered Rosmaini to pay RM25,000 in compensation to Jahidah, 48, via her family representatives. Failure to pay will result in an additional six months of imprisonment.
The court subsequently dismissed Rosmaini's cross-appeal to set aside his conviction and sentence, ordering him to begin his term at Kajang Prison immediately.
On June 17, 2021, Rosmaini pleaded not guilty at the Johor Bahru Sessions Court to intentionally causing grievous hurt by beating his wife's head, face and hands, and stomping on her back. The incident occurred at an apartment in Larkin at 6am on May 4, 2021.
He was charged under Section 325 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 326A, which provides for a jail term of up to double the maximum period for the offence.
Jahidah, a former government employee, was treated at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Sultanah Aminah Hospital before being moved to Tuanku Ja'afar Hospital in Seremban.
She safely delivered a baby boy, Eshan Nufail, via surgery on Nov 30, 2021. The child, now aged four years and five months, is a person with disabilities (OKU).
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