A 40-year-old soldier was charged in the Kota Bharu Sessions Court today with abusing his five-year-old daughter by allegedly kicking her at a restaurant last Friday night.
The accused pleaded not guilty after the charge was read before Sessions Court judge Zulkifli Ablah, Berita Harian reported.
He is alleged to have abused the five-year-three-month-old girl at a restaurant along Jalan Kuala Krai at about 10.55pm on Sept 11.
The charge was brought under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, which provides for a maximum fine of RM50,000, up to 20 years in prison, or both upon conviction.
Deputy public prosecutor Syazalia Che Suhaimin did not offer bail, citing the seriousness of the offence and the fact that the victim is the accused’s biological daughter.
However, defence lawyer Zuhaidie Akmal Hasan Basri sought minimum bail, telling the court that his client had no previous criminal record and was the sole breadwinner for his three children and wife, who suffers from cancer and chronic kidney disease.
The court granted bail of RM10,000 with one surety. The accused was also ordered to report to the nearest police station every two months, surrender his passport and refrain from contacting the victim or any witnesses.
The court fixed Oct 22 for mention of the case.
The charge followed a viral video showing a man allegedly kicking a child at a restaurant, prompting police to launch a search for the pair.
