JOHOR BARU: A mother who is single together with her female companion have been sentenced to seven years in jail by the Sessions Court in Johor Baru 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 initially brought to court on Aug 16 and charged with abusing her son and causing physical injuries at a Bandar Layangkasa, Pasir Gudang house from July 1 until Aug 9.
Both Nurul Asyiqin and Chua were accused of having the intention to neglect the child in their care.
They originally pleaded not guilty but later changed their plea to guilty after the charges were read again in front of Mabel Sheela on Sept 27.
The charges under Section 31(1)(a) of the Children Act 2001, which was read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code carried a potential punishment of a fine up to RM50,000 or maximum imprisonment of 20 years or both if convicted.
Mabel Sheela then sentenced Nurul Asyiqin and Chua to seven years each for the two charges respectively.
The judge, however, ordered that their imprisonment should be served concurrently, starting from the date of their arrests.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Nur Diyana Zubir handled the case while lawyer Nurhazneena Zureen Jaesleen Mohamad Hanafiah represented the accused.
The case received widespread attention when videos of neighbors rescuing the victim from the accused at their house became viral on social media.
