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| This is what acid does to human flesh |
Nur Ain Ashikin Jemedi, 17, is on a life-support machine having been stabbed and splashed with acid by a 42-year-old man who had been fostered by her family and whose love she did not return.
The incident happened at Kampung Baru Sungai Redan, Kota Tinggi. Nur Ain, her 13-year-old sister Nurrehan, and their two-year-old niece were in the bedroom at home when the jobless suspect kicked open the door and attacked Nur Ain. He stabbed her 19 times on her back, buttocks, thighs and arms before splashing her with acid.
Nur Ain was rushed to the Sultan Ismail Hospital where she remains in critical condition. She also lost her 24-week-old unborn child.
After attacking her that morning, the suspect surrendered himself at Ulu Tiram police station.
Kota Tinggi deputy police chief DSP Muhammad Shamsuddin said that the motive was jealousy: “The suspect had found out that the victim had been going out with another man.”
A 17cm knife and the remaining acid was recovered from Nur Ain’s house.
DSP Muhammad said that the case was being investigated under Sections 326 and 307 of the Penal Code for causing grievous hurt and attempted murder.
Nur Ain’s older sister, Suraidah told reporters that the family was aware of the suspect’s interest in Nur Ain and also that she was not in love with him.
Acid attacks in Malaysia, appear to be on the rise. In February, a politician’s wife was attacked.
Soon after, in Kuantan, 47-year-old Supian Hani Ismail, mutilated his wife, 43-year-old Sarina Wahab, because she refused to have sex with him. Their 7-year-old daughter was also injured.
In April, 18-year-old schoolgirl, Tan Hui Lin, finally returned to school after a 6 month recovery period. Her father had thrown acid over both her mother and her, as they lay sleeping.
There have been other acid attacks. Nevertheless, the public’s other concern is at the light sentences given out by the courts.
In one such acid attack, an unemployed man was sentenced to six years jail and two strokes of the rotan. He received six short years, but the woman he attacked has to endure a lifetime of physical and mental scars.
The lenient sentences our courts dish out are no deterrent to those who use acid as a convenient method to vent their anger and frustrations on unsuspecting victims.
Acid eats away flesh and bones and causes terrible pain and shock. An attack also induces terror. Victims are mutilated for life. Some have permanent disabilities such as blindness and disfigurement. All are mentally scarred.
Many believe that the relative ease with which acid can be purchased from any hardware shop is a major contributing factor for acid attacks. They also think that these attacks can be stopped if there are strict measures to control the sale, distribution and storage of acid.
No. They will not.
Anyone with access to a car-battery can easily extract the acid from the battery. Anyone who taps rubber will have access to formic acid. A very concentrated sugar solution has the same burning effect as acid. This method is used as a ‘weapon’ by warring factions of prison convicts.
Restricting the sale of acid and other corrosive chemicals may be ineffective. Anyone with a will to harm others will find ways and means to have access to dangerous chemicals.
The most effective deterrent is to make the punishment for such crimes so severe that people who wish to harm with acid will think twice about using it, especially if they have to be locked away for a very long time, or for life.
Our legal system fails its acid test and we need to seriously address these acid attacks and take drastic measures to protect innocent victims from psychopaths and monsters.
I am from India and have seen the same kind of acid attacks here to. Its hard to believe how people are doing this..Hope students are made aware of this issue and be proactive. Acid have killed few girls in my region.Hope government should really take some serious steps to avoid these acid attacks..
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