GEORGE TOWN, Sept 15 — A babysitter pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here today to a charge of exposing a 13-month-old boy under her care to conditions that could have caused his death last week.
Noraidah Khairuddin, 44, entered the plea after the charge was read out before Judge Irwan Suainbon.
According to the charge, Noraidah, as a person having custody of the toddler, was accused of exposing him in a manner that could have caused his death.
“I plead not guilty because I did not do anything to him,” she said.
The offence was allegedly committed at a house in Taman Desa Mawar, Lintang Kampung Melayu 2, Air Itam, at 2 pm on Sept 8.
She was charged under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, which provides for a maximum fine of RM50,000 or imprisonment of up to 20 years, or both, upon conviction.
Deputy public prosecutor M Darrshini offered bail of RM20,000 with one surety, along with conditions that the accused report to a nearby police station on the first of every month and refrain from tampering with the prosecution witnesses.
The accused’s lawyer, Naqieya Zulkernain of the National Legal Aid Foundation, sought a reduction in bail on the grounds that her client is a housewife who depends on her husband, who has no fixed income, and that they have three children.
The court granted bail of RM8,000 with one surety, along with the additional conditions requested by the prosecution and fixed case mention for Nov 16, pending the post-mortem report.
On Sept 10, police detained Noraidah and the boy’s mother to assist investigations after he was found unconscious with bluish lips at the babysitter’s home in Air Itam. — Bernama
