KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 27 (Bernama) -- A mother was sentenced to one month in jail by the Ampang Sessions Court here today after she pleaded guilty to neglecting her two sons, by leaving them unsupervised at home last month.
Judge Norshila Kamaruddin ordered the 41-year-old masseuse to serve her sentence from the date of arrest.
The woman was charged with neglecting her six-year-old son and a 14-month-old infant at an apartment in Taman Kosas, Ampang, at 7.27 pm on Oct 7.
The offence, under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison, a maximum fine of RM50,000, or both upon conviction.
According to case details, police received a report from a man who found the two children locked inside the house. Investigations revealed that the mother had been absent for two days, leaving the children without supervision. Firefighters were called to the scene and had to force open the door to rescue the boys.
Earlier, deputy public prosecutor Muhammad Hairuliqram Hairuddin urged the court to impose a punishment that would serve as a deterrent to others, emphasising the importance of parental responsibility.
The woman who was unrepresented pleaded for a lighter sentence, citing her financial struggles and responsibility as the family’s sole provider.
-- BERNAMA
