ALOR GAJAH: A married couple has claimed trial at the Sessions Court here to a charge of neglecting their two-month-old son, causing him to be injured.
The accused, both 22, entered the plea after the charges were read out before judge Aiza Khairuddin on Tuesday (May 13).
The housewife and factory operator, as the legal guardians of the child, are accused of exposing him to risk in a manner likely to cause him injuries.
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The offence was alleged to have taken place at a house in Taman Seri Pelangi near here between May 2 and 5.
The charge was framed under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum fine of RM50,000 or imprisonment of up to 20 years, or both, upon conviction.
DPP Muhamad Ali Hussain did not offer bail, citing the seriousness of the offence committed against the child.
He said this was in line with Parliament’s intention when it amended Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001 in 2016 with increased penalties to reflect the severity of such offences.
Lawyer Mohammed Hissham Ramdzan appealed for low bail for both accused, stating that the mother had just completed her postnatal confinement period, while her husband is a factory operator earning a monthly salary of RM1,800.
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The court granted each accused bail of RM10,000 with one surety each and set additional conditions, including reporting monthly to the nearest police station.
Next mention was fixed for June 12.
The alleged child neglect came to light when the mother brought the unconscious infant to Hospital Alor Gajah on the night of May 5, claiming he had suffered a seizure.
The baby was later referred to Hospital Melaka, where a CT scan revealed bruises, cuts on the body and neck, with both old and new instances of internal bleeding in the baby's head.
A police report was subsequently lodged by a specialist doctor from Hospital Melaka.
