IPOH: Two teachers of a daycare centre pleaded not guilty at the Sessions Court here to unintentionally causing physical harm to five children.
Wan Suhaila Mior Khir, 32, and Noor Shafina Abdul Khair, 26, claimed trial to the charges read separately before judge Ainul Shahrin Mohamad here on Friday (July 14).
They were charged under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, which provides for a fine not exceeding RM50,000 or a maximum jail term of 20 years or both, if convicted.
For the first charge, Wan Suhaila was accused of slapping, pulling and pushing a two-year-old girl to the floor, which resulted in bruising on her cheeks, at a daycare centre in Taman Meru Perdana between 9.37am and 9.39am on July 6.
For the second charge, the accused allegedly slapped another two-year girl and pushed the victim's head onto a pillow.
For the third charge, the accused was said to have forcefully pulled another girl's hair, thereby hurting her, at the centre at about 4.15pm on July 4.
Deputy public prosecutor Qurratu'aini Khalifah asked for bail to be denied for the first two charges while DPP SS Evangelin requested RM15,000 bail on the third charge.
Lawyer Raja Mohd Iskandar Zulkharnian Raja Abdul Malek, who represented Wan Suhaila, requested lower bail, saying the accused was two-month pregnant and only earned about RM1,500 a month.
Judge Ainul set bail at RM5,000 for the first two offences with one surety and RM3,000 with one surety for the third offence.
Another accused, Noor Shafina, was also slapped with three charges under the same section of the Act.
For the first two charges, Noor Shafina was said to have placed her head on a two-year-old boy who was sleeping and slapped his right thigh harshly.
She was also accused of pulling the boy’s shirt from the back over his head and slapping his cheek, also at the daycare, between 2.14pm and 2.22pm on July 6.
On the third charge, on the same date, she was alleged to have roughly pulled the hair of a girl and hit her on the back while trying to tie her hair.
DPP Qurratu'aini also requested for bail to be denied.
Lawyer Mohamad Sharifuddin Zaid, who represented Noor Shafina, requested a lower bail as the accused only earned RM1,500 a month.
“Bail is not a form of punishment and the accused’s husband is present to pay it, and would make sure that his wife attends the court proceeding," he added.
Judge Ainul set bail at RM7,000 with one surety for all three charges and set Aug 16, for mention of all the cases.
In a separate courtroom, daycare centre owner Rozidah Yahaya, 51, pleaded not guilty to unintentionally leaving a two-year-old girl without supervision which led to an injury on the child's left hand.
She was charged under Section 33(1)(a) of the Act, which provides for a maximum fine of RM20,000 or up to five years in jail or both, upon conviction.
While waiting to be called, Razidah, who was handcuffed, was seen crying.
DPP K Darinee requested for the bail to be set at RM12,000.
Lawyers Muhd Alif Afandi and Mohamad Salihen Mastor requested a lower amount of RM3,000.
Judge Azizah Ahmad then set bail at RM4,000 with one surety and ordered the accused to report to the nearest police station once a month.
The judge also set Aug 16, for mention.
