A 66-year-old babysitter in Seremban pleaded not guilty at the Sessions Court to a charge of physically abusing an 11-month-old baby girl in a manner likely to cause her injury. Norsham Ismail entered the plea after the charge was read out to her before judge Meor Sulaiman Ahmad Tarmizi on Tuesday (Feb 13).
The babysitter was accused of abusing the baby by slapping her face between 7.45am and 8am on Feb 5 at a daycare centre in Nilai. The charge was framed under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001 which is punishable by a fine not exceeding RM20,000 or imprisonment of up to 10 years or both, upon conviction.
DPP Syamimi Farhana Muhammad A. Aziz appeared for the prosecution, while the accused, who has been working at the centre for more than 10 years, was represented by A. Partheeban from the National Legal Aid Foundation.
Partheeban, the defense lawyer, requested lower bail for his client, citing her status as a widow with no children. He added that her guarantor is her younger brother, who is employed as a technician with a monthly salary of only RM1,800.
The court then set bail at RM7,000 with one surety and scheduled case mention for March 13. – Bernama
