Maid jailed for hurling child

KUANTAN: The Sessions Court here sentenced an Indonesian maid to a total of 20 years’ jail for attempted murder and child abuse after she tossed a four-month-old boy into the air several times.

In handing out the sentence on Yuliana, who is a mother of two, judge Mohd Azhar Othman said the offence was very serious and had caused a huge impact, not only to the boy’s family, but to the public.

“Your action has resulted in the society being afraid and not having peace of mind when leaving their children with their maids.

“The court feels that the sentence commensurate with the offence committed and is a lesson to you,” he added.

Yuliana, 23, who is from Sukarame in Acheh, had just started work as a maid with the boy’s family when she committed the offence last Friday.

Earlier, when a recording of her action was shown in the court, Yuliana, who was clad in a lock-up uniform, did not show any reaction or facial expression.

However, in mitigation, she said: “I’m afraid.”

Yuliana was charged with throwing and hurling Mohamed Hareez Mohamed Zamri a total of nine times, an act which could cause death, at 7.45am on Feb 15 at 7, Lorong Bukit Setongkol 38, Jalan Bukit Setongkol here.

The charge was made under Section 307 (1) of the Penal Code for attempted murder.

She was also charged under Section 31(1) (a) of the Child Act with abusing the child.

Yuliana was sentenced to 15 years’ jail on the first count and five years on the second count.

However, Mohd Azhar ordered the jail sentences to be served concurrently from the date of her arrest.

According to the statement of facts, Mohamed Hareez’s parents were out having breakfast on that day when they saw their son being thrown and hurled by the maid through a closed circuit camera recording on their handphone.

The boy’s mother, Nina Suraya Sulaiman, 24, contacted a neighbour for help and then rushed home with her husband, who then called the police.

The maid was arrested at 9.15am the same day. — Bernama