Court Sentences Couple For Binding Child Beating Her With Durian Skin

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A Sessions Court judge today issued a stern warning to a couple he found guilty of abusing their eight-year-old daughter by binding her hands and hitting her with durian skin last week. Pic by Aswadi AliasKUALA LUMPUR: A Sessions Court judge today issued a stern warning to a couple he found guilty of abusing their eight-year-old daughter by binding her hands and hitting her with durian skin last week.
"Do not do it again," said Judge Mohd Zaki Mohd Salleh after he fined the girl's biological mother, Yorlini Abdullah Umar, 32, while her stepfather Bunyamin Sukiman, 42, was jailed for five years from his arrest on July 18.
The judge had imposed a good behaviour bond on the couple and ordered them to perform 180 hours of community service within 12 months.
Earlier, Yorlini cried loudly in the dock while Bunyamin stared blankly when the court stood down before the prosecution presented its case facts and aggravating factors.
The couple had pleaded guilty to abusing the girl and causing injuries to her body at about 6pm at a unit in Jalan Ampang on July 16.
The charge under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act, read with Section 34 of the Penal Code, carries a maximum fine of RM50,000 and a jail term not exceeding 20 years or both upon conviction.
The court heard that the couple had soaked the girl's hands in hot water, used the durian skin to beat her body, twisted her ears, and bound her hands from the evening of July 16 to the next morning.
The case facts read that in November last year, the girl was questioned by her teacher for an alleged disciplinary offence of cutting off a classmate's headscarf, and her parents were asked to keep her in check.
However, investigations revealed that the girl did not commit the offence.
She was asked by the teacher if she was beaten by her parents because of the alleged offence.
She then revealed that her parents had hit her on her hands and body with the durian skin.
She also said her hands were soaked in hot water, she was punched on the cheek by Bunyamin, and her hands were bound with cellophane tape.
The teacher checked her injuries and lodged a police report.
Earlier, deputy public prosecutor Ravindejit Kaur had asked the court to hand down a harsh penalty against the couple, who had acted cruelly towards their own child.
"The offence against children is serious. They are vulnerable and defenceless, who need laws, the court, and society to protect them.
"Parents should be a safe haven for children, who are entrusted to them.
"Children are not for them to release their anger on," she said.
In mitigation, National Legal Aid Foundation lawyer Simret Singh asked that the court impose a minimal fine on the couple, whose early guilty plea had saved the court's time and cost.
"The accused were remanded for seven days and gave full cooperation to the police.
"They have learned their mistake, are repentant, and pledged not to repeat it.
"As they are caring for their two children, I ask that they be fined," he said. - NST

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