KOTA KINABALU, Sept 5 — A woman was jailed for six months by a Sessions Court here on Thursday for failing to report the child abuse case.
Jaimee Boo, 35, pleaded guilty before judge Amir Shah Amir Hassan to committing the offence in a unit at Taman Telipok Ria in Tuaran between July and August.
The charge stated that Jaimee, who is a family member of two boys, aged 10 and seven, had reasonable grounds to believe that they were being abused but failed to notify a Social Welfare Officer.
The offence was under Section 28 of the Child Act 2001 which provides for a fine or a jail term of up to two years or both, upon conviction.
On August 29, the complainant of this case had lodged a police report of suspected of child abuse at the rented house.
The complainant had first noticed the abuse on August 9 when collecting rent from Jaimee.
The complainant observed injuries on the two children, including cigarette burns, red eyes, bruises and other marks on their heads, bodies, arms and legs.
When asked by the complainant, Jaimee claimed that the injuries were inflicted by the boys’ half-brother.
The complainant advised her to lodge a police report, but she failed to do so.
Feeling uneasy with the situation, the complainant lodged a police report on August 19 which led to the arrest of Jaimie.
The unrepresented accused was ordered to serve the jail sentence from the date of her arrest.
Meanwhile, an unemployed man pleaded guilty in the same court hto two counts of abusing his two minor stepbrothers.
Judge Amir Shah adjourned the case of Mohd Riezwan Mohd Rizal, 19, pending the production of a social report as the latter is a youthful offender.
Mohd Riezwan had committed the offence at a rented house in Taman Telipok Ria, Tuaran between July and August, this year.
On the first count, Mohd Riezwan was accused of abusing his 10-year-old stepbrother by allegedly scalding him with hot water on the right side of his neck and burning his skin, causing blisters.
On the second count, he was accused of abusing another stepbrother aged seven, by hitting him on the head with a dumbbell and pressing a hot ladle against his body, causing burns.
The court fixed to hear the case on October 6.
Mohd Riezwan was denied bail, pending the date. — The Borneo Post
