PETALING JAYA: A video of a senior citizen mercilessly caning a six-year-old, that went viral two years ago, landed the abuser a day in jail and RM6,000 fine in default six months imprisonment.
Sessions Court judge Norshila Kamaruddin meted out the sentence to the 63-year-old woman, when she changed her plea to guilty after a prosecution witness finished giving evidence at the continuation of her trial today.
The woman who had taken the child under her care after her mother died, committed the offence at a house at Taman Puchong Perdana in Jalan Mawar, Bukit Puchong here, at 11 am in September 2016.
In mitigation, her counsel G.Manimegalai said the accused saved the court’s time by pleading guilty.
"The accused was the only one who was willing to look after the victim after both her parents passed away. She did not intend to hit the victim and she only did so to discipline her,” submitted counsel.
However, deputy public prosecutor V. V. Suloshani urged the court to impose an appropriate sentence in view of the rampancy of abuse cases involving children.
"Also the accused only pleaded guilty after her trial proceeded and not on the day she was charged,” submitted DPP. -- BERNAMA