2006 06: Charged with child abuse

The Star online. News. North. Thursday June 8, 2006

PENANG: A 21-year-old contract labourer has been charged in a magistrate's court here with abusing his girlfriend's two-and-a-half-year-old son.

Mohamad Zaidi Mohamed Razak denied abusing the boy, who was under his care, causing him physical and emotional harm, at a house in Sungai Nibong Kecil here at 2am on May 29.

The offence under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001 carries a fine of up to RM20,000 or a jail term of up to 10 years, or both.

Prosecuting officer Chief Insp Jafri Md Zain proposed bail at RM4,000 but the accused asked for a reduced sum, saying he had to help support his family.

Magistrate Ahmad Hidayat Md Nor set bail at RM3,000 and fixed trial for Jan 26. Mohamad Zaidi failed to post bail.

At the Balik Pulau magistrate's court, Ong Teik Thai, 31, was jointly charged with four others still at large with the murder of claypot chicken rice seller Choi Yu Ki, 20.

Ong is charged with murdering Choi by slashing him with a parang in Pekan Teluk Kumbar at 10pm on April 6. No plea was entered and bail was not provided as murder is punishable with a mandatory death sentence.

The court fixed the case for mention on July 28 pending the post-mortem report.