SEREMBAN: A 46-year-old taxi driver was sentenced to three months’ jail and fined RM10,000 after pleading guilty to using a belt to strangle his 14-year-old adopted daughter, causing injuries to her neck.
The accused pleaded guilty to the charge in the Sessions Court here before judge N. Kanageswari.
He committed the offence at about 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, a fine of up to RM50,000 or both, upon conviction.
In mitigation, defence lawyer Shah Wira Abdul Halim pleaded for leniency, saying the accused had saved the court’s time by admitting guilt.
“A lengthy trial has been avoided with the accused, who is also a first-time offender, pleading guilty. He may have acted out of frustration as the victim ignored his advice to reduce excessive social media use,” he said.
Shah Wira added that the accused, who suffers from a physical disability and earns about RM1,500 a month, is the sole provider for his ailing mother, wife and another nine-year-old adopted child.
“A lengthy custodial sentence would cause hardship to his mother, who relies heavily on him,” he said, adding that the accused was remorseful and wished to turn over a new leaf.
Deputy public prosecutor Siti Khairiah Abdul Razak urged the court to impose a sentence reflecting the seriousness of the crime.
“In such cases, public interest must take precedence over personal interest. As a guardian, the accused should never have injured the child, even in the name of discipline,” she said.
Kanageswari also ordered the accused to serve an additional six months in jail if he failed to pay the fine.
He was further ordered to enter into a RM3,000 good behaviour bond for one year and to complete 36 hours of community service within six months.
