5 days ago
Woman claims trial to child abuse, placing chili inside girl's mouth
BUTTERWORTH: A restaurant worker was charged in the Sessions Court here today with abusing her 10-year-old daughter by hitting her with a phone charger cable and placing chilli in her mouth last month.
The accused pleaded not guilty before Judge Nor Azah Kasran.
According to the charge, the 33-year-old, who has custody of the girl, is alleged to have caused physical harm by striking her with a phone charger cable and putting chilli in her mouth.
The alleged offence took place at a house in Bandar Bertam Perdana, Kepala Batas, at about 10am on July 1.
The accused was charged under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, which carries a maximum fine of RM50,000 or imprisonment of up to 20 years, or both, upon conviction.
During the proceedings, deputy public prosecutor Muhammad Rifaie Mohamed opposed bail on the grounds that the offence is non-bailable.
However, he proposed bail of RM10,000 with one surety should the court permit it, saying that the victim is the accused's biological daughter, who now lives with an adoptive family.
Defence counsel A. Mahesh requested minimal bail, citing his client's limited means as a restaurant worker earning daily wages and her responsibility for seven other children, including a breastfeeding infant.
"My client has cooperated fully with the police during the investigation and is not a flight risk," he said.
Nor Azah allowed bail at RM8,000 with one surety, and imposed additional conditions requiring the accused to report to the police station monthly and forbidding her from contacting the victim or prosecution witnesses.
The case has been fixed for mention on Sept 10 to obtain the victim's medical report.
