MELAKA: A woman has been ordered to perform 240 hours of community service over six months for neglecting her three children two years ago.
Ayer Keroh Sessions Court judge Darmafikri Abu Adam imposed the sentence on the 41-year-old woman after she pleaded guilty to two amended charges.
The mother of four, who is a general assistant at a school, was also placed on a two-year good behaviour bond of RM7,000 under Section 294 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
In both amended charges, the woman was accused of negligently leaving her three biological children, aged 6, 8 and 11, at the time of the incident, without proper care, which could have resulted in physical and emotional injuries to the children.
The offences took place at a house in Taman Gadong Perdana in the Melaka Tengah district between June 16 and June 18, 2021, and Sept 23 to 25, 2021.
She was charged under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, which carries a maximum jail term of 20 years or a fine of up to RM50,000, or both, upon conviction.
Earlier, lawyer Omar Zulkarnain, who represented the accused, requested the court to impose a lighter sentence and applied for a good behaviour bond on the grounds that the woman had repented.
However, deputy public prosecutor Rashidah Baharom objected to the application as it was feared that it would not achieve the nature of punishment to deter others from committing similar offences. --BERNAMA