A former babysitter has been fined RM5,000 and ordered to complete 36 hours of community service within six months for endangering the life of a two-year-old girl in a potentially fatal situation that occurred three years ago.
Judge Dr. Azrol Abdullah handed down the sentence to 38-year-old Low Yu Ning after she admitted to exposing the child to a situation that could have led to her death at a residence on Jalan Danau Kota, Off Jalan Genting Kelang, on December 6, 2021, at 1 pm.
Low was charged under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001. This section of the law imposes severe penalties, with fines that can reach up to RM50,000 or imprisonment for up to 20 years, or both.
Additionally, the court mandated that Low be placed on a good behaviour bond for one year, with a surety amount set at RM2,000.
The case facts reveal that a Malaysian Emergency Response Services 999 (MERS 999) operator initially received a report indicating the girl’s death, leading to the filing of a police report. Upon investigation, the police apprehended Low at the Danau Kota residence. They found that she had left the child unsupervised, strapped into a car seat inside a room.
Given that Low was entrusted with the child's care, her act of leaving the girl unattended in a car seat created a hazardous situation that could have resulted in the child's death.
Earlier in the proceedings, Deputy Public Prosecutor Muhammad Muhairi Mohamed Noh advocated for the court to accept a plea bargain under Section 172(d) of the Criminal Procedure Code.
Low’s attorney, S. Kirthen, later confirmed that they had submitted a representation to the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) to request the charges against Low be dropped.
Kirthen explained, “Initially, my client faced charges of abuse. However, the AGC amended the charge after the medical report showed no signs of physical abuse or beating.”
This case underscores the serious legal repercussions of endangering a child's life, highlighting the critical importance of responsible childcare.
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