KUCHING: The Sessions Court here today (Feb 4) sentenced a nanny to one year’s imprisonment in default of a RM20,000 fine for physically abusing a one-year-old child under her care in December last year.
22-year-old Carol Phan pleaded guilty to the charge before Judge Musli Abdul Hamid.
Phan was charged under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, which carries a maximum fine of RM50,000 or imprisonment of up to 20 years, or both.
Judge Musli also ordered Phan to execute a RM2,000 bond with one surety to be of good behaviour for three years, pursuant to Section 31(2)(b) read together with Section 31(3)(a) of the Act.
In addition, Phan was ordered to complete 100 hours of community service within six months from Feb 4.
According to the charge sheet, the offence was committed at a residential area on Dec 4, 2025, at about 3.00 pm, when Phan was entrusted to care for the child.
She abused the victim by tying the child’s body to a chair using a cloth, resulting in bruises to the child’s body.
Case facts revealed that on Dec 10, 2025 at about 5.00 pm, the child’s father noticed bruises around the child’s abdomen extending to the back after picking him up.
The child was taken to a health clinic, where a medical officer advised the father to lodge a police report after suspecting the injuries were caused by abuse.
Police later arrested Phan at her house and seized a rattan child’s chair and a torn batik sarong believed to have been used in the incident.
Medical examination confirmed that the child had suffered physical injuries.
Deputy Public Prosecutor, Asmawi Nur Haqim Mokthar, prosecuted the case, while Phan was represented by counsel, Dennis Chan.
