SEREMBAN: A self-employed man who pleaded guilty to voluntarily causing grievous hurt to a woman changed his plea just as he was about to be sentenced at a Magistrate's Court here on Wednesday (April 27).

       The 41-year-old suspect, who also faces two murder charges, claimed trial before the same magistrate Mohd Firdaus Saleh after the charge was read to him again by the court interpreter.

       On April 13, the accused pleaded guilty before Mohd Firdaus to voluntarily causing grievous hurt to Siti Sharifah Aibiddin, 35, at a house in Taman Nee Yan here.

       He was charged with committing the offence between Dec 1 last year and March 23.

       The accused was charged under Section 325 of the Penal Code, which carries a jail term of up to seven years and a fine or both upon conviction.

       The court had fixed sentencing for Wednesday after Siti Sharifah's counsel Datuk Hanif Hassan asked the court to allow her to submit a victim impact report.

       Siti Sharifah, who was accompanied by her family members, was brought to court in a wheelchair.

       Mohd Firdaus then fixed May 17 for next mention to allow the accused to appoint a lawyer.

       The suspect and his daughter, a juvenile who turns 18 in October, were jointly charged on April 13 with the murder of five-year-old Hanan Hasrul Izwan, whose skeletal remains were found near a residential area here on April 7.

       Hanan Hasrul was Siti Sharifah’s daughter.

       The father and daughter were charged with committing the offence at the same house at around 7pm on March 3.

       The man was also charged with the murder of 29-year-old Merriamah Abdullah Basam, whose remains were found in a ravine along Jalan Bukit Putus on March 20.

       He allegedly committed the crime between March 13 and 15 at the same house.

       The suspect had on April 13 also claimed trial at the Sessions Court to another charge of causing grievous hurt to Siti Sharifah by splashing hot water on her, causing her to suffer serious burns.

       He allegedly committed the offence between Dec 1 and March 23 at the same house.

       He was charged under Section 326 of the Penal Code which carries a jail term of up to 20 years, fine and whipping if found guilty.

       He also claimed trial to a charge of neglect against 20-month-old Sufiy Hasrul Izwan, who is Siti Sharifah’s son.

       The accused allegedly committed the offences between Dec 1 and March 23.

       He was charged under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act which carries a fine of up to RM50,000 or a jail term of up to 20 years or both upon conviction.