MELAKA: A babysitter was fined RM2,000 after pleading guilty to injuring a 21-month-old girl by pinching her genital area, resulting in bruises.
Magistrate Uthman Abd Ghani meted out the sentence after the accused Masmariati Samsudin, 44, admitted to the charge when it was read to her yesterday.
Masmariati was charged with voluntarily causing hurt to the toddler at a house in Jalan Desa Taming Sari 3, Sungai Udang, here, on Feb 13 last year.
According to the statement of facts, the victim’s mother noticed bruises on her daughter’s private parts after bringing her back from the babysitter’s home at about 7pm on that day.
Initially, the babysitter denied knowing how the bruises occurred but later admitted to pinching the child.
A medical examination found injuries to the child’s private parts and lower abdomen that were classified as physical assault.
National Legal Aid Foundation lawyer Muhamad Mawardi Zainudin, who represented the accused, appealed for a minimum fine.
Muhamad Mawardi also said the accused had recently undergone spinal surgery, deeply regretted her actions and admitted that she had failed to control her emotions.
The accused, who was seen using a walking stick, paid the fine.
