SEREMBAN: A 31-year-old mother has been jailed for three months after pleading guilty earlier to causing physical injury to her 11-year-old daughter.
In imposing the sentence on Tuesday (Dec 16), Sessions judge Surita Budin also ordered that the accused undergo 120 hours of community service within six months of her release.
The woman is also required to post a RM1,000 good behaviour bond with one surety, in default a further two months' jail.
On Monday (Dec 15), the accused pleaded guilty when the charge was read out to her before Surita.
She was charged with committing the offence in a flat near here at around 5.30am on Oct 29.
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The charge, under Section 31(1) of the Child Act 2001, carries a jail term of up to 20 years or a fine not exceeding RM50,000, or both, upon conviction.
The provision makes it an offence to abuse, neglect, abandon, or expose a child in a way that causes physical or emotional injury, or to cause or permit such harm.
According to the facts of the case, the accused had used a knife to attack the victim, which caused injury to the girl's ear.
She also physically assaulted the victim, injuring her shoulder.
In mitigation, her lawyer Hanis Anisah Jamiludin said the accused had been under medication for mental health-related issues and had even tried to take her own life before.
"She failed to control her anger when she found her cosmetics in her daughter's bag.
"The accused is deeply remorseful for what she did and promises never to repeat it," she said.
Hanis Anisah said that a long custodial sentence could worsen her medical condition.
She added that the accused's husband and relatives have pledged to ensure she takes her medication and not to leave her alone at home.
Deputy public prosecutor Norazihah Asmuni asked the court to impose a sentence commensurate with the offence, as the accused had caused emotional trauma to the victim.
"As a mother, she is supposed to protect her child but in this case, she used a weapon to cause injury to her daughter.
"The attack will surely have a lasting impact on the victim and has caused her emotional trauma," she said.
Norazihah urged the court to impose a punitive sentence as a deterrent to others.
