Milo theft: Pakatan seeks clean slate for Sellamah

Amanah's Hanipa says the High Court has power to strike off the criminal record.

KUALA LUMPUR: Pakatan Harapan MPs are seeking a judicial review of the recent conviction of a housewife who stole a packet of Milo from a supermarket.

Sepang MP Mohamed Hanipa Maidin of Parti Amanah Negara told a press conference outside the Dewan Rakyat today that the purpose was to get the courts to strike off the criminal record on S Sellamah, whom a magistrate convicted on March 2. She was sentenced to a day’s jail and fined RM200.

Hanipa said he, on behalf of Pakatan MPs, would write to the High Court to seek the review.

He said several sections of the Criminal Procedure Code gave the High Court the power to review the correctness of a lower court’s decision .

“We don’t want the criminal record to hound her,” he said. “In our opinion, the magistrate did not have to sentence the mother to prison or fine her.”

He said Sellamah’s punishment gave the impression that there was a double standard in the Malaysian justice system.

“Those who are weak, poor and are of the masses are easily punished while the elite, rich, powerful and have influence as well as those who are close to groups who have power will not be touched and can go scot free.

“Stealing a packet of Milo incurs punishment but those who are involved in the 1MDB scandal are safe from punishment.”