KUALA LUMPUR: A young mother who locked up her three-year-old son in a cage meant for cats has been sentenced by the Sessions Court to three years in jail.
The 20-year-old mother, whose name is withheld, appeared emotionless as Sessions Court judge Siti Shakirah Mohtarudin ordered the sentence to run from Wednesday (Nov 13).
Her friend Adibah Mohd Zaini, 35, cried as she was also sentenced to three years in jail for the same offence.
The court also imposed a five-year good behaviour bond without collateral and 240-hour community service for six months after the completion of the jail time.
Both women pleaded guilty to a joint charge of abusing the child by way of locking him up in a cat cage.
The offence was committed at an apartment at Taman Danau Desa at about 8.16pm on Feb 10.
If convicted, the charge under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code, carries a fine of up to RM50,000 or imprisonment of up to 20 years, or both.
The mother also pleaded guilty to a second charge of wrapping the child with cellophane tape at the same place at 3.58pm on Feb 21.
The court sentenced her to the same punishment and ordered the sentence to run concurrently.
During mitigation, the unrepresented mother, who worked at a fast food restaurant, asked for a lenient sentence.
"I plead guilty and am sorry for my action," she said briefly.
Adibah, who was sobbing as she addressed the court, said that she has two children, aged 11 and one.
"I regret my action after spending time in the lock-up. I promise not to make the same mistake again.
"My husband is the sole breadwinner in the family, and my mother is now looking after my two children, but my mother is unwell," she said.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Nidzuwan Abd Latip asked the court to mete out a deterrent sentence as a lesson for the women and the public.
"A cat cage is not for human use, and the prosecution asks the court to consider the exhibits we tendered.
"The court must also consider the fact that the mother of the child, who is one of the offenders, had failed to protect her child from harm," he said.
On Monday, the mother, Adibah, and another friend, Nor Azlin Fatin Najihah Lokman, 25, were sentenced to 14 days in jail and RM10,000 fine by the Sessions Court after they pleaded guilty to kicking the same victim.
