2-11-2023 (KUALA LUMPUR) In a heart-wrenching case of child abuse and neglect, a Sessions Court judge in Malaysia was visibly moved as she sentenced a single mother and her female companion to seven years in jail for their cruel actions.
Nurul Asyiqin Mohamad Zahir, 27, and Singaporean Awiin Chua, 30, both pleaded guilty to the shocking abuse and neglect of Nurul Asyiqin’s seven-year-old son.
While delivering her judgment, Sessions Court judge V.M. Mabel Sheela struggled to hold back tears as she contemplated the one full month of torment that the child endured. She spoke of the unique bond between a mother and her child, emphasizing that even in the face of pain, a child’s natural inclination is to be with their mother.
“The court cannot imagine the victim’s condition if the public did not intervene. He would have surely died,” Judge Mabel Sheela stated, clearly affected by the gravity of the situation.
The child’s rescue was the result of a video that was widely circulated online, showing concerned neighbors taking action to save him from his mother’s house.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Nur Diyana Zubir, in her earlier submission, revealed that a medical examination had uncovered more than 20 physical injuries on the victim’s body. She pointed out that the frequency of the abuse over the course of a month was evident in the presence of both old and new wounds, as well as scars on the child’s body.
“The victim was not only beaten but also neglected by being locked in the house alone without food, and the accused did not stop or save the victim when he was beaten,” the prosecutor stated.
The case of Nurul Asyiqin and Chua first came to court on August 16, when they were charged with physically injuring Nurul Asyiqin’s son at a residence in the Bandar Layangkasa neighborhood of Pasir Gudang, Johor Bahru, during the period from July 1 to August 9.
In a second charge, they were accused of jointly neglecting the child under their care. Both accused faced charges under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, in conjunction with Section 34 of the Penal Code, which carries the potential for a fine of up to RM50,000 (S$14,400), a maximum of 20 years’ imprisonment, or both, upon conviction.
Initially, both accused had pleaded not guilty to the charges, but they later changed their pleas to guilty when the charges were reiterated in front of Judge Mabel Sheela on September 27.
Subsequently, the judge sentenced Nurul Asyiqin and Chua to seven years in prison for the two charges but determined that their term of imprisonment would commence from the date of their arrest.
