PETALING JAYA: A single mother and her friend have pleaded not guilty on two charges of abusing a seven-year-old boy in Johor.
The 27-year-old mother and her 30-year-old friend claimed trial after the charges were read to them before magistrate Fatimah Zahari, Kosmo reported.
On the first charge, the duo were accused of intentionally abusing and causing physical injury to the victim under their care, whereas on the second charge, they were charged with neglect over the welfare of the victim.
The two offences were said to have occured at a house in Bandar Layangkasa in Pasir Gudang, between July 1 and Aug 9.
The charges were framed under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, read with Section 34 of the Penal Code, which provides for a fine of up to RM50,000, or a maximum of 20 years imprisonment, or both.
“The first accused is the biological mother of the victim, who had taken the child from the care of his grandparents in Pokok Sena, Kedah, to Johor. However, she failed to care for him, caused him physical injury, and neglected him.
“The second accused is a Singaporean living in the same house as the first accused. Although she is not related to the victim, she was entrusted with responsibility over the child,” deputy public prosecutor Nur Diyana Zubir was quoted as saying.
Nur Diyana added that the child has been hospitalised and is now under the care of his uncle, pending the welfare department’s decision on his custody.
The magistrates’ court allowed the victim’s mother bail of RM15,000, and the second accused, RM20,000.
Fatimah also ordered for both accused to report to the nearest police station once a month until the conclusion of the case.
Case mention has been set for Sept 27, pending a medical report on the victim’s condition from Sultan Ismail Hospital in Johor Bahru.