KUCHING: A teacher was fined RM5,000, in default six months’ imprisonment, by the Sessions Court here today for abusing a five-year-old child under her care.
Judge Musli Ab Hamid imposed the fine on 51-year-old Ya’ani Musa after she pleaded guilty to a charge under Section 31(1) of the Child Act 2001.
The section provides for a fine of up to RM50,000, imprisonment for a term not exceeding 20 years, or both upon conviction.
The court also ordered Yaani to execute a three-year bond of good behaviour in the sum of RM2,000, with one local surety, pursuant to Section 31(2)(a) of the Child Act 2001.
Under Section 31(2)(b), read together with Section 31(3A) of the same Act, she was further ordered to perform 100 hours of community service within six months from the date of the order.
Yaani was charged with abusing the child at a community rehabilitation programme centre near Kem Penrissen here at about 8.30 am on May 26, 2025.
According to the charge, Yaani, being a person having the care of the child in her capacity as a teacher, had abused the child by causing injuries to her.
The incident came to light when the child’s mother noticed a red mark on the right side of her daughter’s neck after picking her up from the programme centre and preparing to bathe her at about 11.47 am on the same day.
She subsequently discovered bruises on several parts of the child’s body, including the chest, back, right thigh and right side of the neck.
The mother then contacted the centre to seek an explanation and was told by a teacher that the injuries were caused by negligence while brushing the child during a bath.
The child was subsequently taken to Hospital Umum Sarawak for medical examination.
Police investigations later identified Yaani as the teacher responsible for the child’s care.
In mitigation, the defence told the court that the case was Yaani’s first offence and highlighted her 28 years of service at the centre. The defence also urged the court to impose a lenient sentence on Yaani.
Yaani was represented by counsels Steven Beti and Gerald Empaling during the court proceedings.
