GEORGE TOWN: Three individuals have been charged in a Sessions Court here with two counts each of physically abusing two children.

       The three accused are the children's 28-year-old mother, 52-year-old grandaunt and a 42-year-old man, believed to be a family friend.

       Based on the charge sheets, they are charged with abusing a five-year-old girl and three-year-old boy between May 13 and 27 at the Rifle Range flats here.

       The charges were framed under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, which provides for a maximum fine of RM50,000, a maximum 20-year prison term or both if found guilty.

       All three accused pleaded not guilty to the charges.

       Last Friday (May 27), the mother and grandmother were arrested in Air Itam after pictures of two abused children went viral.

       “A police report was lodged by a local man at the Air Itam police station at 8am in relation to a Facebook post with pictures of the two children who had bruises on their faces. This led to a raid at the flat at 11.15am,” said George Town OCPD Asst Comm Soffian Santong

       He said the police rescued a five-year-old girl and her three-year-old brother. Checks showed the bruises sustained were due to abuse.