Child abuse: Woman changes plea to not guilty
KUALA LUMPUR: A young housewife, who had pleaded guilty to three counts of abusing her two biological children, yesterday changed her plea and pleaded not guilty to all the charges in the Sessions Court here.
The 19-year-old woman changed her plea after the court interpreter read out the charges to her again during the proceeding which was fixed to hear the probation report and for sentencing.
“Not guilty,” said the young mother, looking restless and trying hard to control her tears.
The prosecution, conducted by deputy public prosecutor Siti Aisyah Ahmad, did not offer bail, but the woman, unrepresented, requested to be allowed bail as the children needed her.
An officer from the Social Welfare Department also objected bail for the woman, fearing for the victims’ safety, who were now under the temporary custody of her (accused) oldest sister.
“The accused has access to the children through her family. We do not want the children to be in a threatening situation,” she said.
Judge Emelia Kaswati Mohamad Khalid did not allow the woman bail and set Nov 7 for submission of documents and Dec 12 and 13 to hear the case.
Last Sep 25, the woman pleaded guilty to three charges with abusing her daughter, aged two years and two months, and a son, aged six months, leaving the children with scars on several parts of the body – at a house in Taman Intan Baiduri, Sentul here, between Aug 6 and Sept 18 this year.
The charges, under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, provides for a maximum fine of RM50,000, or imprisonment up to 20 years, or both, if found guilty. — Bernama