Kota Kinabalu: An unemployed man was charged in the Sessions Court here with two counts of child abuse involving his 10-year-old and 7-year-old stepbrothers.
Mohd Riezwan Mohd Rizal, 19, pleaded guilty before Judge Amir Shah Amir Hassan to committing the offences between July and August, this year, at a rented house in Taman Telipok Ria, Tuaran.
On the first charge, Riezwan was accused of abusing his 10-year-old stepbrother by scalding him with hot water on the right side of his neck and burning his skin, causing blisters.
On the second charge, during the same period at the same location, Riezwan was accused of abusing his 7-year-old stepbrother, by hitting him on the head with a dumbbell and pressing a hot ladle against his body, causing burns.
Each charge under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, provides for a maximum penalty of a RM50,000 fine, up to 20 years’ imprisonment, or both, on conviction.
The court adjourned the case to Oct 6 pending the accused’s social report.
The accused was denied bail pending the date. Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Bryan Francis prosecuted.
In another case, a 32-year-old man was sentenced to 12 months’ jail for attacking another man with a samurai sword during a dispute in the city.
Mohd Firdaus Safri pleaded guilty before Magistrate Marilyn Kelvin to causing hurt to Mohd Mujibur Rahman Mangkassar, 34, with the dangerous weapon at 2.19am on May 22, this year, near a café at Sutera Avenue.
Firdaus changed his plea to guilty to the charge under Section 324 of the Penal Code, which carries a penalty of up to 10 years’ imprisonment, a fine, whipping, or any combination of the punishments.
According to the prosecution, the incident stemmed from a planned meeting between Firdaus’ friend, Jerhan and another man to discuss a project.
The victim arrived at the location in his white Perodua Myvi, but a heated argument broke out between him and Jerhan.
Fridaus, who had accompanied Jerhan, then pulled out a samurai sword and chased after the victim.
The victim attempted to flee but fell to the ground, where he was punched and struck with the sword, sustaining cuts to his head, face and body.
The court was told that dashcam footage from the victim’s vehicle showed both Fridaus and Jerhan assaulting him.
A forensic examination confirmed that the weapon seized, the samurai sword and the clothes worn by Fridaus during the incident matched the evidence.
Firdaus was ordered to serve the sentence from the date of his arrest.
Inspector Yusdi Basri prosecuted.
