KOTA KINABALU: A mother was sentenced to five years in prison for abusing her 9-year-old daughter, while her husband pleaded not guilty to four charges of raping the child.
During the proceedings, a video showing the mother abusing the girl, recorded by a complainant, was played in court.
The woman pleaded guilty to causing physical injuries to her daughter at the car park of an apartment building in Penampang between noon and 12.05pm on Oct 22.
She was charged under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, punishable under Section 31(1) of the same Act, which provides for imprisonment of up to 20 years, a fine of up to RM50,000, or both, upon conviction.
In mitigation, the unrepresented woman said she had three young children and that her husband had also been arrested.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Nurul Shafferah Mad Iskim said the child had been subjected to abuse since she was 7.
She said the medical report confirmed multiple abrasions, bruises and bite marks, while the victim had also been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
The mother was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment, effective from Oct 22, the date of her arrest, and fined RM10,000. In default of payment, she will serve an additional 12 months in prison.
The court also ordered her to enter into a 3-year good behaviour bond of RM2,000 without deposit, with one surety, upon completing her prison sentence.
She was further ordered to perform 120 hours of community service after her release.
The mother, 29, and her husband, 34, appeared separately before Judge Amir Shah Amir Hassan.
Her husband, a bakso seller and holder of an IMM13 document, was charged with raping their daughter on four separate occasions in February, April, May and October this year at an apartment in Penampang.
He was charged under Section 376(3) of the Penal Code, which carries a prison sentence of between 8 and 30 years and a minimum of 10 strokes of the cane upon conviction.
The court fixed Dec 11 for pre-trial case management.
Bail was not granted, and the man, who was unrepresented, will remain in custody pending the next court date.