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GEORGE TOWN – An Indonesian woman was sentenced to two years in prison by the sessions court here today, on charges of abusing a one-year-old child last year.
Justice Mazdi Abdul Hamid passed the sentence after the accused, Ellis Andreyani, 47, who was not represented by a lawyer, pleaded guilty.
According to the charge sheet, Ellis, who has lived in the country illegally for seven years, was charged with abusing a one-year-old boy until the victim suffered physical injuries.
The offense was allegedly committed at a house in Taman Utama Minden Heights, Gelugor, between 10am and 3pm in November last year.
She was charged under Section 31 (1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, which provides for a fine not exceeding RM20,000 or imprisonment not exceeding 10 years, or both.
Earlier, the court also replayed video footage showing Ellis abusing the child, and the accused confirmed that the incident was true.
“I’m sorry, I promise I won’t do it again. I am asking for a reduced sentence,” she said.
However, deputy public prosecutor Rais Imran Hamid asked the court to give an appropriate sentence as a lesson to the accused and the community.
“The video recording clearly shows the accused committing the offense of abuse. As a guardian, the accused should take good care of the child and lovingly, instead of beating him.”
The judge ruled Ellis should serve a two-year prison sentence, starting from the date of her arrest on December 8, 2021.
Earlier, a video clip was posted on Twitter about a woman believed to be a nanny forcefully slapping the cheek of a child who was only wearing a diaper.
She was also seen pulling the child’s hand.
The owner of the Twitter account also claimed that a police report had been lodged but no action was taken because the authorities claimed that the woman involved had mental problems.
It is understood that Ellis was previously serving a sentence under the Immigration Act at the Immigration Detention Depot in Juru for not having a valid travel document. – The Vibes, March 23, 2022
