KOTA KINABALU: A local woman has been fined RM20,000 in default three months' jail for abusing a six-year-old girl under her care.
Sessions Court judge Noor Hafizah Mohd Salim also ruled that Sabarria Sazali, 31, execute a bond of good behaviour for two years with RM2,000 bail and a local surety as well as perform 50 hours of community service for a maximum of six months from the order.
The court delivered its guilty verdict here on Wednesday (June 28) after finding that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt.
Sabarria was accused of causing physical and emotional injury to the child between March 2019 and Feb 27, 2020 at a house in Tuaran district, some 40km from here.
The accused, according to the charge sheet, was a person responsible for taking care of the child.
She was charged under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001 which provides for a maximum 20-year jail sentence or a fine of up to RM50,000, or both, on conviction.
The accused was the sole witness for the defence while seven witnesses were called by the prosecution during the trial.
Counsel Adelia Adnan, who appeared for Sabarria, had sought leniency for her client, submitting that she was a first-time offender and had expressed remorse.
The court was also told that the accused was looking after her disabled uncle as well as her grandmother.
Deputy public prosecutor Dacia Jane Romanus, however, urged the court to impose a deterrent sentence considering that the case was of public interest and involved a minor.
She added that an appropriate punishment was needed to show public disapproval of the offence.
It is learned that Sabarria failed to pay the fine.
