KLANG, Sept 7 — A nursery teacher was fined RM800 and sentenced to seven days in jail after pleading guilty at the Magistrate’s Court here today to causing hurt to a seven-year-old autistic boy last month.
Magistrate Siti Zubaidah Mahat meted out the sentence on Lenah Abdul, 43, after taking into account her guilty plea, as well as submissions from the prosecution and defence.
The mother of five was accused of intentionally causing hurt to the autistic child at about 10am on Aug 28 at a special education centre for children with special needs along Jalan Bendahara, Taman Sentosa.
The offence was allegedly committed when the accused was seriously and suddenly provoked, without any intention of causing hurt to any person.
She was charged under Section 334 of the Penal Code, which provides for imprisonment of up to one month, or a fine of up to RM1,000, or both, upon conviction.
According to the facts of the case, the complainant, identified as the victim’s father, discovered bruises on the boy’s left thigh, stomach, arm and cheek, believed to have been caused by hitting and pinching.
The victim’s father subsequently informed the boy’s mother, who then contacted the nursery.
The nursery informed her that the victim had been uncontrollable on the day of the incident, causing the teacher on duty to lose her patience and hit the child with a clothes hanger.
The victim’s father then lodged a police report.
Earlier, the accused’s lawyer, Adam Rosli, appealed for a lenient sentence, saying his client has five school-going children, including one with autism who is registered as a person with disabilities.
The lawyer said she earns RM1,700 a month and had expressed remorse for her actions.
He submitted that the incident occurred while the accused was facing a difficult situation, as the victim was said to have repeatedly soiled his diaper and smeared faeces on the walls.
The lawyer also highlighted that there were seven other active children under his client’s care on the day of the incident, making the situation difficult to manage.
However, deputy public prosecutor Mohammad Uzzair Rosman urged the court to impose a commensurate sentence as a deterrent, considering that the accused was a teacher and caregiver entrusted with looking after the autistic child at the centre.
He submitted that the accused’s failure to control her emotions had resulted in injuries to the victim and that the offence was a matter of public interest.
