Grandma in Song fined for abusing granddaughter

SIBU: A 54-year-old woman was fined a total of RM10,000 in default six-month imprisonment by the Sessions Court in Kapit yesterday after she pleaded guilty to abusing her 14-year-old granddaughter.

The woman faced two counts of charges under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001 (Amendment 2016) (Act 611) for causing injuries to her granddaughter on Jan 27 this year around 8.30pm at a longhouse in Song.

The Section provides for a maximum fine of RM50,000, or a maximum 20-year imprisonment, or both, upon conviction.

Based on facts of the case, the woman’s granddaughter sustained injuries on her left forehead and right side of the neck.

Based on the investigation, the incident first struck around 8.30pm in the kitchen where the woman slapped her granddaughter on the right cheek, punched her on the right side of the chest and pulled her hair.

The second incident occurred five minutes later in the living room, where the girl was again slapped on the right cheek, and scratched on the right side of the neck and left side of the forehead.

The girl was also strangled until she passed out. It was reported that there were a few longhouse folks who witnessed the incident.

It was also learned that the woman got angry because her granddaughter, who frequently went to other people’s houses, refused to listen to her advice.

At the same time, the girl also asked for a RM50 school aid, which angered her grandmother even further.

Sessions Court Judge Marutin Pagan imposed a fine of RM5,000 on the woman, in default three months in prison, for each of the charges.

The accused must also enter a bond of good behaviour of three years in the sum of RM5,000 undeposited with one surety.

She is also ordered to undergo community service for 100 hours.

DPP David Bakit Nuing prosecuted the case, while the accused was unrepresented.