Babysitter mum denies causing death of toddler

PETALING JAYA: A young mother pleaded not guilty in a Sessions Court here to causing the death of a three-year-old girl she was babysitting.

Gloria Erren Liwie (pic), 23, claimed trial to the charge of culpable homicide not amounting to murder before Judge Kamil Nizam.

She was said to have caused the toddler ’s death in her home at the Impian Baiduri apartment, Sg Way, between 1pm and 4pm on March 14.

The woman, dressed in a white top with black pants, appeared dazed when the charges were read to her.

Under Section 304(a) of the Penal Code, those found guilty of causing death with intent or through bodily injury likely to cause death face up to 30 years in jail and a fine.

Deputy public prosecutor V. Suloshani urged the court not to offer bail due to the severity of the alleged offences.

However, defence lawyer Mohd Yusri Mohd Yusoff said Gloria had to care for her 11-month child and was still breast feeding her.

He also asked for low bail as Gloria’s husband earned only RM1,400 a month working as a van driver.

Judge Kamil Nizam then allowed bail at RM15,000 with one surety and ordered Gloria to surrender her passport and report to a police station in the area once a month.

Judge Kamil also fixed mention on April 24 for the exchange of documents.

It was also learnt that the Sarawakian only started working as a babysitter after moving to the Klang Valley some eight months ago.

It was reported that the child was picked up from the babysitter’s house at 4pm, already in an unconscious state, and taken to the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre, where she was confirmed dead at 5.40pm.