TWO childminders and a manager of a nursery in Meru, Ipoh, were charged in separate Sessions Courts in Ipoh today with abusing and neglecting children under their care.

Childminders Noor Shafina Abdul Khair, 26, and Wan Suhaila Mior Khir, 32, were charged with three counts each and both of them pleaded not guilty to the charges before judge Ainul Shahrin Mohamad.

For the first and second counts, Noor Shafina was charged with abusing a two-year-old boy by lying down with the boy underneath her, pulling his hair and slapping him on the face at the nursery on July 6.

She is also alleged to have abused a two-year-old girl by hitting the child on the back and pinching her cheeks.

The court allowed her bail of RM7,000 in one surety on all three charges and set August 16 for mention.

Deputy public prosecutor Qurratu’aini Khalifah prosecuted while lawyer Mohammad Syarifuddin Zaid represented Noor Shafina.

Wan Suhaila is alleged to have abused three two-year-old girls at the nursery on July 4 and 6.

The woman, represented by lawyer Raja Mohd Iskandar Zulkharnian Raja Abdul Malek, was allowed bail of RM8,000 on all three charges.

All the charges against the two women were framed under section 31 (1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, which provides for imprisonment of up to 20 years or a maximum fine of RM50,000, or both, upon conviction.

Meanwhile, in a separate court, nursery manager Rozidah Yahaya, 51, pleaded not guilty to a charge of neglecting a two-year-old girl, resulting in the child being injured on the left shoulder.

She was charged under section 33(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, which provides for imprisonment of up to five years or a fine of not more than RM20,000, or both, upon conviction.

Judge Azizah Ahmad allowed the woman bail of  RM4,000 in one surety and ordered her to report herself at the nearest police station once a month.

She also set August 16 for mention.

The prosecution was conducted by deputy public prosecutor K. Darinee, while Rozidah was represented by lawyers Muhd Alif Afandi and Mohamad Salihen Mastor. – Bernama, July 14, 2023.