Suhakam Urges Public Prosecutor To Appeal Child Abusers 14 Day Jail Term

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Three women were sentenced to 14 days in jail and fined RM10,000 each for child abuse yesterday. (Bernama pic)
PETALING JAYA: The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) has called on the public prosecutor to appeal the decision of a court which meted out a 14-day jail sentence in a recent “inhumane” child abuse case.
In a statement, Suhakam children’s commissioner Farah Nini Dusuki said the woman in question and her two friends could have been jailed for up to 20 years for abusing a 3-year-old boy.
Nur Adriana Mysara Nazri, 20, along with Adibah Zaini, 35, and Nor Azlin Fatin Najihah Lokman, 23, were sentenced to 14 days in prison and fined RM10,000 each by the Kuala Lumpur sessions court yesterday after they pleaded guilty to child abuse.
Reports stated that the child was confined in a cage by the three offenders as Adriana claimed she needed to go to work. The court heard that the child was kicked by Adibah and Azlin recorded the incident while Adriana looked on.
The boy was later found to have sustained injuries to his abdomen, eyebrows, limbs and back.
The trio was charged under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act, which carries a fine of not more than RM50,000 or imprisonment of up to 20 years, or both, upon conviction.
While acknowledging that the mother was a youthful offender, Farah said the aims of retribution and deterrence in sentencing must be upheld, especially when the offence was serious and targeted a defenceless victim.
“This abuse was inhumane… The deputy public prosecutor should file a notice of appeal immediately to send a clear message that child abuse is intolerable,” said Farah.
“The sentence, for an offence that has become a matter of public interest, is profoundly inadequate and fails to convey society’s abhorrence for such acts.”
She also recommended that the child be placed with a foster family familiar to him and that the mother undergo at least six months of counselling.
Police were alerted about the case after a video went viral showing Adibah kicking Adriana’s son.
The offence took place at a home in Taman Danau Desa, Setapak, on Feb 23. - FMT

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