JOHOR BARU: The Sessions Court here has sentenced a single mother and her female companion to seven years’ in jail for abusing and neglecting her seven-year-old son.
Sessions Judge VM Mabel Sheela made the decision against Nurul Asyiqin Mohamad Zahir, 27, and Singaporean Awiin Chua, 30 on Wednesday (Nov 1).
Nurul Asyiqin and her housemate Chua were first brought to court on Aug 16 and charged with abusing her son leading to physical injuries at a Bandar Layangkasa, Pasir Gudang house from July 1 until Aug 9.
For the second charge, both Nurul Asyiqin and Chua were accused of having a common intention to neglect the child under their care.
They initially claimed trial to the charges but later pleaded guilty after the charges against them were read again in front of Mabel Sheela here on Sept 27.
Both accused were charged under Section 31(1)(a) of the Children Act 2001, which was read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code that carried a fine of up to RM50,000 or a maximum 20 years imprisonment or both upon conviction.
Mabel Sheela then sentenced Nurul Asyiqin and Chua to seven years each for the two charges against them respectively.
She, however, ordered that their imprisonment run concurrently starting from the date of their arrests.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Nur Diyana Zubir prosecuted the case while lawyer Nurhazneena Zureen Jaesleen Mohamad Hanafiah represented the two accused.
The case gained public attention when videos of neighbours rescuing the victim from the accused at their house went viral on social media.
