SIBU: A 45-year-old woman was sentenced to a total of 15 years’ imprisonment by the Sessions Court today (Nov 18) for three counts of neglecting and abusing her two children, aged 11 and 14.
When the nature of the three charges was read and explained to her through an interpreter, Bibi Narcessus Dryddeen Jitai from Merbau Road, Sarikei, understood the charges and the consequences of maintaining her plea of guilt.
The Sessions Court judge accepted her plea of guilty and sentenced her to five years for each charge.
However, the judge ordered that the sentences for the three charges run concurrently.
According to the first charge, Bibi was accused of neglecting her 14-year-old daughter by chasing her out of the house at Pahlawan Road on Aug 15 at about 6 pm.
The second charge stated that she abused her 11-year-old son by using a broomstick at her house on Aug 15 at about 1.30 pm.
The third charge against her stated that she had abused her 11-year-old son by scalding him with boiled water at the house on Oct 20 at about 5 pm.
All three offences are listed under Section 31(1)(A) of the Child Act 2001, which provides for a fine of up to RM50,000, 20 years’ imprisonment, or both.
The case was prosecuted by DPP Adriana Maisarah Mohd Farid, while the accused was unrepresented by legal counsel.
