SEREMBAN: A 46-year-old taxi driver was sentenced to three months jail and fined RM10,000 by the Sessions Court here after he pleaded guilty to a charge of using a belt to strangle his 14-year-old adopted daughter which resulted in her suffering a physical injury on her neck.
The accused did not contest the charge after it was read to him before Judge N. Kanageswari.
He was charged with committing the offence at around 2pm on Sept 15, 2024 at his rented house in Bandar Seremban Selatan.
He was charged under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001 which carries a jail term of up to 20 years or a fine of up to RM50,000 or both upon conviction.
In mitigation, lawyer for the accused Shah Wira Abdul Halim pleaded for a lenient sentence as the accused had saved the court's time by pleading guilty.
"A lengthy trial has been avoided with the accused, who is also a first time offender, pleading guilty.
"The accused may have got upset as the victim did not give heed to his advice to break away from excessive use of social media," he said.
Shah Wira said the accused, who also suffered from physical disability and earned about RM1,500 a month, had to provide for his sickly mother, wife and another nine-year-old adopted child.
"If the court metes out a lengthy custodial sentence, this will cause hardship to his mother who relies very much on him," he said.
Shah Wira said the accused was also remorseful for what he did and has decided to turn over a new leaf.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Siti Khairiah Abdul Razak urged the court to impose a sentence commensurating the crime.
"In such cases, public interest takes priority over personal interest.
"As a guardian, the accused should not have caused injury to the child even if it was to educate him or her," she said.
Judge Kanageswari also ordered the accused to serve an additional six months in jail if he was unable to pay the fine.
He was also ordered to pay a good behaviour bond of RM3,000 for one year and to complete 36 hours of community service within six months.
