A STORE assistant and his girlfriend, who works as a cleaner, were charged at the Ipoh Sessions Court today with abusing her four-year-old son at a flat last week. 

S. Uthayakumar, 26 and A. Kanageswary, 23, claimed trial to abusing the boy and physically injuring him at a flat in Block F-2-12, Jalan Menglembu Impiana 26, Taman Menglembu Impiana Adril on August 2.   

The charge, framed under section 31(1) of the Child Act 2011, is punishable with a maximum fine of RM50,000, maximum 20 years’ jail or both. 

Deputy public prosecutor Evangelin Simon Silvaraj offered bail at RM15,000 each, while the accused’s counsel Kelvin Francis appealed for RM3,000 on grounds both his clients were in financial hardship and wanted to start anew after their divorces. 

Judge Ainul Shahrin Mohamad granted bail at RM6,000 with one surety each and set October 2 for mention. 

A four-year-old boy was reportedly found locked up in his house. Investigations later discovered alleged abuse by his mother and her boyfriend. 

Acting on a public tip-off, police later rescued boy, who had been left alone and had bruises all over his body. – Bernama, August 8, 2023.