Tuaran woman charged with abusing niece

Kota Kinabalu: A 30-year-old unemployed woman was charged at the Sessions Court here Tuesday with abusing her six-year-old niece.

The woman pleaded not guilty before Judge Noor Hafizah Mohd Salim, to committing the crime against the girl, which caused her to suffer physical and emotional injuries between March 2019 and Feb 27, 2020 in a house of a village in Tuaran.

The charge stated that the accused had been entrusted with the care of the child.

She was charged under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001 (amended 2016) which provides for a fine of up to RM50,000 or a jail term of up to 20 years or both on conviction.

The court set trial on Oct 4-5 and also fixed March 16 for pre-trial case management.

The accused was released on a bail of RM10,000 with RM5,000 deposited in two sureties.

She was also ordered to report to Tuaran police station every first Friday of the month and also ordered not to interfere or to communicate with any of prosecution witnesses.

Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Megat Mahathir Megat Tharih Affendy prosecuted while the accused was not represented.

Meanwhile, in another Sessions Court, a 47-year-old man, who was charged with two counts of similar offence will go on trial on July 12–14.

Judge Azreena Aziz in setting the date for the man also set March 23 for case management.

The man was on Feb 8, this year claimed trial to abusing his 14-year-old daughter which caused body injury between 12 noon and 5pm on July 11, 2020 in an apartment in Penampang.

On Feb 10, he pleaded not guilty to another similar charge of abusing his nine-year-old son, which caused bodily injury to the child at the same place and time.

Earlier, DPP Megat Mahathir informed the court that the alleged victims withdrew the reports but that his instruction was to proceed with the case.

The prosecution said that both the alleged victims were currently under the care of the Welfare Department.

DPP Megat Mahathir informed the court that the prosecution would be calling six witnesses during the trial.

The accused was released on an extended bail of RM10,000 with RM3,000 deposited in two sureties on each count.

He was not represented.