parents charged Zulkifli Che Othman, the father of the five-year-old girl who was abused, and his wife Rahayu Hassan being led to the Sessions Court in Pasir Mas by police officers.
PASIR MAS: The father and step-mother of a five-year-old girl have pleaded not guilty in a Sessions Court here to charges of abusing her.
The woman, Rahayu Hassan, 23, was earlier charged with abusing the girl by causing her physical and emotional injury at a house in Kampung Bagus, Rantau Panjang, between January and May this year.
The charge, under Section 31 of the Child Act 2001, carries a RM20,000 fine, 10 years jail or both.
Rahayu also faces a charge of voluntarily causing grievous hurt to the child at the same place and date, an offence under Section 325 of the Penal Code which is punishable by up to seven years or fine or both.
Rahayu pleaded not guilty to both charges.
Her husband Zulkifli Che Othman, 39, who is the girl’s biological father, was charged with neglecting his responsibility in caring for his daughter.
He was charged under Section 31 of the Child Act and can be fined up to RM20,000 or jailed for 10 years or both.
Judge Dazuki Ali allowed the couple a bail of RM20,000 in one surety for each count.
They were also ordered to report to the Rantau Panjang police station between the first and fifth day of every month until the disposal of the case.
Deputy public prosecutor Julia Ibrahim prosecuted while lawyer Mohamad Ridzuan represented both the accused.
The court set Aug 16 for mention. — Bernama
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