RM3,000 bail for impoverished babysitter forced to live in nursery

KUALA LUMPUR, 9 July 2020:

A babysitter today pleaded not guilty at the sessions court here today on a charge of abusing a five-month-old baby boy – who suffered bruises on his left thigh and minor wounds on his right hand in January.

Noraini Mohamad, 46, made the plea after the charge was read by the interpreter before judge Izralizam Sanusi.

The woman was charged with committing the offence at Taska De Sayang, Foreign Ministry, Wisma Putra in Putrajaya between 7.30am and 5.30pm on Jan 7 under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001 – which provides for a maximum fine of RM50,000 or jail up to 20 years or both upon conviction.

Deputy public prosecutor Afiq Nazrin Zaharinan proposed bail at RM5,000 in one surety and the accused was required to report to the nearest police station once a month.

But the accused – represented by counsel K. Navin Kumar – appealed for the bail to be lowered as she is a single mother with five children.

“Her husband has passed away, two of her children are still in school, one in college and one more in Year Six…She was living in the nursery and was only paid RM1,000 a month and did not past criminal record.”

The court allowed the accused to go on bail at RM3,000 in one surety and was required to report herself to the police station until the case is settled and set Aug 7 for mention of the case.

In CHUKAI, a total of 28 men – including two foreigners – pleaded guilty at the Kemaman sessions court here today on charges of being involved with a cockfight on Friday (July 3).

Judge Azman Mustapha handed down a fine of RM20,000 in default six months’ jail to Suwarno Kartono, 56; Muhamad Rizuandi Jusoh, 33; Kamarudin Che Soh, 34; and Mohd Yuszy Mohd Yusof, 40, for causing the animal fight to take place, or attempting to do so.

They were accused of committing the offence at an unmarked cockfighting pit on Jalan Ibok, Ayer Jerneh in Kemaman, at about noon.

The offence under Section 32 (1) (a) of the Animal Welfare Act 2015 (Act 772), read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code, is punishable under Section 32 (5) of the same Act, which carries a fine of between RM20,000 and RM100,000 or imprisonment for up to three years, or both, upon conviction.

Azman also sentenced 24 other men aged 20 to 57, including two foreigners to a fine of RM20,000 in default five months’ jail for being present at the animal fight without any lawful authority or reasonable excuse.

Mohd Shahihan Mohd Tahar of the Terengganu State Veterinary Department prosecuted, while all the accused were unrepresented.

– Bernama