Maid admits neglect, jailed 4 years for toddler’s drowning

 The woman left the toddler and his brother alone at an adult swimming pool, without any swimming aid or flotation device, despite knowing that both children could not swim.

Wahyuni Tanjung was charged with child neglect under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, which carries a maximum fine of RM50,000 or imprisonment of up to 20 years, or both.

KUALA LUMPUR:

An Indonesian domestic helper was sentenced to four years’ jail by the sessions court here today after pleading guilty to neglecting a toddler who later died after drowning in a swimming pool last month.

Judge Suhaila Haron handed down the sentence on Wahyuni Tanjung, 44, and ordered her to serve the jail term from the date of her arrest on July 29.

According to the charge, Wahyuni, as a person having custody of a two-year-old boy, had neglected the child, resulting in his death.

The offence was allegedly committed at the adult swimming pool of a residence in Sentul here between 6pm and 7pm on July 28.

She was charged under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, which carries a maximum fine of RM50,000 or imprisonment of up to 20 years, or both.

According to the facts of the case, the victim’s mother asked the accused, who was her domestic helper, to take the victim and his five-year-old brother for a swim at the residence’s pool on the day of the incident.

The accused contacted the victim’s mother at around 7pm to inform her that the child had drowned.

The victim was later taken to Selayang Hospital and admitted to the intensive care unit, but was pronounced dead at 4am the following day.

A post-mortem conducted at Kuala Lumpur Hospital found that the cause of death was consistent with drowning.

Investigations found that the accused, who had only been working for the family for a month, brought the victim and his brother to the adult swimming pool without any swimming aid or floatation device, despite knowing that both children could not swim.

She had also allegedly left the two children unsupervised when she went to the toilet.

Deputy public prosecutor Subri Hashim urged the court to impose an appropriate sentence as a lesson to the accused and other child caretakers.

“The accused, who was employed by the victim’s mother to work and help care for the children, should not have left the victim and his young brother alone without proper supervision.

“The court should take into account the seriousness of the offence, which resulted in the loss of the victim’s life,” he said.

Wahyuni, who was unrepresented, appeared emotional when shown photographs from the victim’s post-mortem report.

She did not appeal for a lighter sentence but informed the court that her husband had died 14 years ago and that she has a 16-year-old son in Indonesia. - FMT