SEREMBAN: A 27-year-old child care provider at a private centre has been sentenced to six months in jail and fined RM10,000 by the Sessions Court here after pleading guilty to abusing a seven-month-old baby.
Saidatul Syafinaz Saadan did not contest the charge when it was read to her before Judge Surita Budin.
The accused faces an additional 10 months in jail if she fails to pay the fine.
Surita also ordered Saidatul Syafinaz to complete 240 hours of community service within 12 months and to serve a good behaviour bond for two years by depositing RM2,000 in one surety.
The mother of one was accused of abusing and causing physical injury to the seven-month-old baby girl at the centre in Garden Avenue Seremban 2.
She was charged with committing the offence between 7am and 6.30pm on Aug 24, 2020.
Saidatul Syafinaz was charged under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, which carries a fine of up to RM50,000 or a jail term not exceeding 20 years or both upon conviction.
In mitigation, her counsel Mohamad Kamaruzzaman stated this was the accused's first offence and that it was unintentional.
He mentioned that the accused has a 15-month-old son and suffers from a heart condition.
Deputy public prosecutor Norazihah Asmuni emphasised that the accused had a responsibility to care for the child but ended up abusing her.
"The victim suffered brain haemorrhage and weakness on the left side of her body.
"The court should impose a sentence that commensurates with the offence as a lesson to the accused and a deterrent to others," she added.
