KUALA LUMPUR: A woman broke down in tears at the KL magistrates court today and begged not to be jailed over prostitution as her seven-year-old child needed her.
The woman, a 34-year-old divorcee, told the magistrate that she needed to look after her child, who is now being cared for by her neighbour.
The woman was sentenced to six months jail when she pleaded guilty to offering sexual services to passersby along Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz here three days ago.
Police, acting on a public complaint, arrested her at the first floor of a shoplot there around 1.50pm last Tuesday.
The woman, who suffers from asthma, pleaded to be punished with fine rather than jail time as she also had to look after her elderly parents.
"My life has been beset with difficulties," she said in between sobs.
However, magistrate Ashraf Rezal Abdul Manan told her that a custodial sentence must be meted out as the welfare of society takes precedence over that of the individual.
"I pray that your son be well taken care of by your neighbour," Ashraf said before ordering the woman to serve her six-month jail term from her date of arrest on Aug 11.
Deputy public prosecutor Noor Azilah Mohd Yushaa prosecuted while the woman was unrepresented.