A pregnant woman, six months along, was sentenced to two months in jail by the Bandar Baru Bangi Sessions Court for soliciting clients for prostitution using the Telegram app under the alias ‘Miza Ozawa’.
Judge Shahrul Rizal Majid delivered the sentence to 27-year-old Siti Amiza Baharuddin after she maintained her guilty plea to the optional charge. The judge ordered that her sentence begin from the date of her arrest on June 6.
Siti Amiza was charged with committing the offence at a condominium unit in Bukit Mahkota, Kajang, at 4 pm on June 6. The charge was made under Section 372B of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum sentence of one year in prison, a fine, or both.
During the sentencing, Judge Shahrul Rizal Majid advised Siti Amiza to maintain self-control and to learn from the incident. He emphasized the importance of taking the case as a serious lesson.
Siti Amiza pleaded with the court to impose a fine instead of a jail term, citing her remorse for her actions and her pregnancy as mitigating factors. However, Deputy Public Prosecutor Nurul Afiqah Abdul Ghaffar urged the court to impose a prison sentence. She argued that the nature of the offence and the public's interest necessitated a strong response, as such immoral acts could harm societal morals and potentially spread sexually transmitted diseases.
The case details revealed that police raided the condominium unit and, upon inspecting Siti Amiza’s phone, discovered she had been using social media to solicit clients for prostitution. Further investigations by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission confirmed that she had employed both Facebook and Telegram to carry out her activities.
Additionally, on June 19, Siti Amiza was sentenced by the Magistrate’s Court to one month in prison and fined RM12,500. This sentence was related to her guilty plea to charges of possessing obscene materials and unregistered medications.
The case highlights the legal and social challenges surrounding the use of digital platforms for illegal activities. It underscores the judiciary's role in balancing punishment with the potential for rehabilitation, especially in cases involving mitigating circumstances such as pregnancy. The court's decision also reflects an effort to deter similar offences and protect public health and morality.
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