Taken away: Puteri Nurin Amalina being escorted away by police officers after being further charged.
SEREMBAN: A childcare assistant has claimed trial in two Sessions Courts here to charges of using a hot spoon to injure four young girls at a childcare centre in Rasah.Puteri Nurin Amalina Ahmad Daud allegedly caused burns and physical injury on the arms of the girls aged between five and six years.
The accused, who turns 20 on Sept 22, allegedly committed the offences in August this year.
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She was first slapped with two charges before Judge Surita Budin followed by two more in Judge Meor Sulaiman Ahmad Tarmizi’s court.
Puteri Nurin Amalina was charged under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, which carries a maximum 20-year jail term, a fine of up to RM50,000 or both, upon conviction.
Several people believed to be members of her family were present in court.
In the first court, deputy public prosecutor Norazihah Asmuni asked for a mention date as her team had yet to obtain the medical reports.
She also said the prosecution was not offering the accused bail but if the court allowed it, then the amount should be high due to the nature of the alleged offences.
The accused then told the court she wished to be allowed bail and that her parents were present in court.
She also said she earned an allowance of RM300 a month and had only been working at the centre for five months.
Puteri Nurin Amalina went on to say that she suffered from migraine and had spinal aches but had yet to go for a medical check-up.
Surita granted bail of RM40,000 for both charges.
The accused was ordered not to contact the victims, to report at the nearest police station once a month and to surrender her passport to the court if she has one.
In the second court, deputy public prosecutor Syamimi Farhana Muhammad A. Aziz also refused to offer bail.
“Although the accused is being charged with two offences in this court, she had been charged with two more in another court earlier.
“In total, there are four children who had been subjected to physical injury,” she said.
When Meor Sulaiman asked the accused if she had anything to say, she merely asked to be given bail.
The judge then asked the deputy public prosecutor if the alleged offences were committed in the same home, Syamimi Farhana answered in the affirmative.
“Taking that into account, I hereby deny the accused bail,” said Meor Sulaiman.
Both courts fixed Oct 18 for mention and to allow Puteri Nurin Amalina to appoint a lawyer.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain confirmed yesterday that the case is related to a large-scale operation in two states where hundreds of children were rescued on Wednesday.
The top cop said the rescue was part of Ops Global.
The raids were conducted at 18 care homes in Selangor and Negri Sembilan.
A total of 402 children, comprising 201 boys and 201 girls, aged between one and 17, were rescued.
They were believed to be victims of abuse and those who were abandoned.
Razarudin said 171 suspects, aged between 17 and 64, were arrested, including a teacher and dorm caretakers.
