Man jailed 8 months for assaulting mentally ill, vulnerable half-sister for 10 days

• Zulkefly Yusof’s half-sister Mdm Mariam Yusof has schizophrenia
• He assaulted her by kicking, punching and striking her with a belt
• Mdm Mariam’s sister discovered the abuse and called the police

SINGAPORE — An unemployed man living in Johor Baru returned to Singapore shortly before Malaysia’s movement control order took effect earlier this year, then began abusing his half-sister.

From the day Zulkefly Yusof moved in with his older half-sister and father, he began scolding and physically abusing her. She suffered from schizophrenia and could not protect herself.

On Tuesday (June 23), Zulkefly was sentenced in a district court to eight months’ jail. 

The 56-year-old Singaporean pleaded guilty to one charge of causing hurt to Madam Mariam Yusof, 65, with another charge taken into consideration for sentencing.

While the offence normally attracts up to three years’ jail, a maximum fine of S$5,000 or both, he was liable for twice that punishment as Mdm Mariam is a vulnerable person under the law. The provision for enhanced penalties for crimes against vulnerable persons took effect this year.

Mdm Mariam has been receiving treatment at the Institute of Mental Health for her mental illness since the early 1990s.

The court heard that Zulkefly travelled frequently to Singapore from Johor Baru and when he was here, he would live with his father.

He returned on March 16, two days before the movement control order was imposed to stem the spread of Covid-19 in Malaysia.

Mdm Mariam had previously lived with her sister, who was her primary caregiver, but she moved in with her father sometime last year, as the older man had suffered a fall and specifically requested for Mdm Mariam’s company.

Between March 16 and 26, Zulkefly repeatedly scolded and assaulted Mdm Mariam whenever she made a small mistake or when he felt angry.

He kicked her legs and punched her on the face, body and arms. He also punched her at least once while wearing nine metal rings on his fingers, six of which were set with various stones and gemstones.

On the last day, he used a leather belt with a metal buckle to strike her on her back and waist area. She did not complain nor retaliate.

That day, Mdm Mariam’s sister decided to visit her as she had heard about the abuse and was worried for Mdm Mariam’s safety.

When the other woman saw Mdm Mariam’s swollen and blackened eyes, as well as multiple large bruises on her arms and legs, she waited for Zulkefly to return to his bedroom before calling the police.

During the call, Zulkefly shouted in Malay: “Where is my drink?” and “I am a gangster”.

Police officers arrived 10 minutes later and called for an ambulance. While Mdm Mariam initially did not want to go to the hospital, several relatives came to persuade her and she relented.

A doctor at Ng Teng Fong General Hospital found that she had suffered a minor head injury and multiple bruises and contusions on her arms and legs — likely a result of blunt trauma or assault.

She was hospitalised for nine days and was referred to a senior adult protection officer at the Ministry of Social and Family Development. She also moved back to her sister’s home and applied for a personal protection order against Zulkefly.

In mitigation, Zulkefly, who has been in remand since being arrested, said through an interpreter that he did not remember some of the assaults.

“I plead guilty for what happened to her and I promise to myself it will not be repeated again, this offence,” he added.