BATU PAHAT: A 58-year-old nanny was charged in the Sessions Court here today with physically abusing an 11-month-old girl under her care by slapping the child’s cheek, leaving it bruised.
Ng Lee Fhung, who was found not fluent in Bahasa Malaysia, did not have her plea recorded when the charge was read before judge Osman Affendi Mohd Shalleh.
She was accused of causing physical injury to the infant at a house in Taman Setia Jaya between 9am and 6pm on Aug 6.
The charge, framed under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, carries a penalty of up to 20 years’ jail, a fine of up to RM50,000, or both, upon conviction.
Deputy public prosecutor Sharifah Natasha Syed Ahmad prosecuted, while Ng was represented by lawyer Nurul Nadia Yunus.
The prosecution sought a later mention date and proposed bail of RM15,000 with conditions.
The court fixed Sept 22 for the presence of an interpreter and allowed bail of RM8,000 with one surety.
Ng was ordered to the nearest police station on the first day of every month, surrender her passport to the court, and refrain from contacting prosecution witnesses.
According to the case facts, police were alerted by hospital staff after the baby was found to have a bruise on her cheek.
Investigations revealed the accused, a neighbour of the victim’s family, had been asked to care for the child three days prior to the incident.
She allegedly slapped the infant when the child would not stop crying.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
