Man, girlfriend charged with abusing boy

 

A store assistant and his girlfriend, who works as a cleaner, were charged at the Sessions Court today, with abusing her four-year-old son at a flat in Ipoh last week.

S Uthayakumar, 26 and A Kanageswary, 23, pleaded not guilty to abusing the boy and physically injuring him at a flat in Block F-2-12, Jalan Menglembu Impiana 26, Taman Menglembu Impiana Adril, Ipoh on Aug 2.

The charge, framed under Section 31(1) of the Child Act 2011, is punishable by a maximum fine of RM50,000 or imprisonment up to 20 years or both.

Deputy public prosecutor Evangelin Simon Silvaraj offered bail at RM15,000 each, while the accused’s counsel Kelvin Francis appealed for RM3,000 on the basis that both his clients were in financial hardship and wanted to start anew after their divorces.

Judge Ainul Shahrin Mohamad granted bail at RM6,000 with one surety each and set Oct 2 for case re-mention.

On Aug 3, the media reported that the desperate cries for food from a four-year-old boy locked up in his house led to his rescue and the discovery of alleged abuse by his mother and her boyfriend.

Police rescued the boy, who had been left alone and had bruises all over his body, after the public alerted them.

- Bernama