GEORGE TOWN: A stall assistant has been charged in two separate Sessions Courts here with abusing seven of his nine children.

       The 42-year-old man claimed trial to all seven charges that were read to him by court interpreters before judges Mazdi Abdul Hamid and Norsalha Hamzah.

       Based on the charge sheets, he is charged with causing bodily injury and neglecting the health of seven of his children, six girls and a boy aged between five and 14, between January and December last year at their apartment in Jelutong near here.

       At Mazdi’s court, the accused claimed trial to four counts of abusing three daughters and one son, while at Norsalha’s court, he claimed trial to three counts of abusing three daughters.

       All the charges were framed under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, which provides for a jail term of up to 10 years or a fine not exceeding RM20,000, or both, if found guilty.

       At Mazdi’s court, deputy public prosecutor Rais Imran Hamid did not offer bail due to the relationship between the accused and the victims, and urged the court to fix a date for mention, pending the medical report.

       “We are worried that the accused may disturb the witnesses.

       “The victims in this case are underage,” he told the court yesterday.

       The accused’s lawyer, Md Yusuf Md Idris, appealed to the court for bail, saying his client only earned RM1,200 as a stall assistant at the Taman Tun Sardon market.

       “He has a wife, who is not working, and nine children. My client also has health ailments such as chronic diabetes, asthma and high blood pressure, all of which need daily treatment.

       “The law is clear, in that if the prosecution does not offer bail, the court has a discretion to decide on the matter.

       “Any possibility of my client disturbing the witnesses remains a speculation at this point in time,” he said.

       Md Yusuf said there was an application from the Welfare Department for an interim protection order on Monday.

       “This means that the safety of the victims and witnesses is guaranteed,” he said, adding that his client would be staying with his brother.

       Mazdi then set bail at RM9,000 for each charge with one surety and imposed three conditions: that the accused report himself to the nearest police station on the first and 15th of every month until the case is disposed, hand over his passport to the court, and not disturb the victims and witnesses.

       “He is also prevented from staying with the victims,” said Mazdi.

       At Norsalha’s court, the judge set bail at RM8,000 for each of the three charges with one surety and two conditions.

       “You are not to go near the victims and you are to report yourself at the nearest police station,” she said.

       Deputy public prosecutor Muhammad Shahrezal Mohd Shukry prosecuted in Norsalha’s court.

       Both Sessions Courts imposed a total of RM60,000 bail.

       Meanwhile, at a Magistrate’s Court on the same day, the accused claimed trial to a single charge of voluntarily causing hurt to his wife, 42, by hurting her neck and body at the same place and time.

       The charge was framed under Section 323 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt, read together with Section 326(a) of the Penal Code.

       Deputy public prosecutor Syairah Aqilah Khalil urged the court to set bail at RM4,000 with one surety.

       Magistrate Rosnee Mohd Radzuan then set bail at RM3,000 with one surety.

       Case mention for all eight charges has been set for Feb 11.