KUALA LUMPUR: A day after her actor brother Khaeryll Benjamin Ibrahim received his sentence of 11 years in prison by an Indonesian court for attempting to smuggle crystal methamphetamine into Sumatra, actress Elza Irdalynna speaks out on the issue.
Elza took to her Twitter account to express her feelings and thoughts about her 38-year-old brother, more popularly known as Benjy.
“Breaking my silence on Ben. Previously, I refrained from making statement. But today I feel compelled to say something.
“Ben, for all his flaws and mistakes, is my blood. He was the brother that cared for me and my sister when my parents were out working. Form very young he had to be the man of the house and gave up his childhood playtime with friends so that he could look after us.
“Ben, for all his shortcomings and bad decisions, is my brother. He was the one to protect me when I needed it, he was his sisters’ shield. I felt a little braver, knowing he was my brother.
“Ben, for all his missteps and wrongdoings, is my family. And no matter how many years, not fourteen not Eleven, Will ever break our bond as siblings everlasting.
“I do not define Ben by his mistakes. I love him as my brother. I forgive him as my family. He has a long way to go to make amends. But I, as his sister, will be there till the end,” wrote the second child of the late actress Azean Irdawaty who passed away in 2013 due to lymphedema and tumour.
In addition to the jail time, Benjy was ordered to pay a fine of US$74,000 (RM312,539) by the Medan District Court.