JOHOR BARU: The Sessions Court here has postponed the sentencing of a single mother and her female companion after both of them pleaded guilty to abusing and neglecting her seven-year-old son.
Lawyer Abd Rahim Ali, who represented both the accused - the boy’s biological mother Nurul Asyiqin Mohamad Zahir, 27, and Singaporean Awiin Chua, 30 - said the decision was initially slated for Tuesday (Oct 10).
“However, the court interpreter informed us that Judge VM Mabel Sheela was on medical leave.
“The decision for the case has been postponed to Nov 1,” he said when met outside the courtroom on Tuesday.
He added that Nurul Asyiqin had recently suffered from a fall in the bathroom at the Simpang Renggam detention centre.
“Her right leg was fractured and she has been given treatment at a hospital but she is still limping,” Abd Rahim added.
Nurul Asyiqin and her housemate Chua were first brought to court on Aug 16, where they were charged with abusing her son under her care, leading to his physical injuries in a house in Jalan Wau Kikik 7, Bandar Layangkasa, Pasir Gudang here from July 1 until Aug 9.
For the second charge, both Nurul Asyiqin and Chua were accused of reaching a common intention to neglect the child under their care.
They initially claimed trial to the charges but later changed their pleas to guilty after the charges against them were read again in front of Judge Mabel Sheela here on Sept 27.
Both the accused were charged under Section 31(1)(a) of the Children Act 2001, which was read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code that carried a fine of up to RM50,000 or a maximum 20 years imprisonment or both upon conviction.
The prosecution was represented by Deputy Public Prosecutor Nur Diyana Zubir.
The case gained public attention when videos of neighbours rescuing the victim from the accused at their house went viral on social media.
