Single father fined RM24,000 for physically abusing his children

SIBU: A 43-year-old single father was fined a total RM24,000 by the Sessions Court here yesterday in default six months’ jail for physically abusing his children.

Judge Marutin Pagan meted out the sentence after the accused pleaded guilty to two charges under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001.

The Section provides for a fine of not more than RM50,000, or imprisonment of up to 20 years, or both, on conviction.

The accused was fined RM12,000 in default three months in jail for each charge. He paid the fines.

On the first charge, he was charged with abusing his 12-yearold son in a manner likely to cause him physical injury.

On the second charge, he was charged with abusing his eightyear-old daughter in a manner likely to cause her physical injury.

Both offences were committed on Aug 6 this year at their house.

According to the facts of the case, the headmaster and pupil affairs senior assistant of the school attended by the accused’s son went to the house on Aug 8 to check why the boy was absent from school.

At the house, the headmaster interviewed the accused’s three children and the siblings then showed the headmaster bruises on their hands and thighs.

Suspecting the siblings had been abused by their father, the headmaster lodged a police report which led to the arrest of the accused on the same day.

Police investigation found that the accused often beat his three children for ‘annoying’ him.

A medical examination found the 12-year-old suffered swollen upper limbs and multiple bruises on his lower limbs, while his sister had an abrasion wound on her head and a small bruise on her left arm. Their six-year-old brother meanwhile had multiple old bruises and scars on his bilateral lower limbs. Deputy public prosecutor Heng Yi Min prosecuted while the accused was not represented.