A former childcare worker in Mentakab was charged at the Temerloh Sessions Court today with allegedly abusing a two-year-old girl in a manner that could have caused emotional harm last month.
Nor Ain Ashikin Husin, 26, pleaded not guilty after the charge was read before Judge Jamaludin Mat.
According to the charge, Nor Ain, who was responsible for the child’s care, allegedly abused the girl in a way that could have caused emotional injury.
The offence was allegedly committed at about 9.45am at a childcare centre in Taman Keramat Indah, Mentakab, on Aug 11.
She was charged under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, which provides for a fine of up to RM50,000, imprisonment of up to 20 years, or both upon conviction.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Khairunnisa Zaffar proposed bail of RM10,000.
However, defence lawyer Mohd Falihin Kamil Mohamed Sazali sought a lower amount, saying Nor Ain’s family could only raise RM5,000. He said his client, who is married, previously earned about RM1,500 a month but is currently unemployed.
The court granted Nor Ain bail of RM5,000 with one surety and imposed additional conditions that she must not interfere with the victim or prosecution witnesses and must report to a nearby police station once a month.
The case was fixed for mention on Oct 14.
The case came to light after a 22-second video went viral on social media, purportedly showing a woman scolding and touching a crying child at a childcare centre in Mentakab.
Temerloh district police chief Assistant Commissioner Mohd Nasyim Bahron was previously reported as saying police opened an investigation after receiving a report from the victim’s 29-year-old mother.
