SHAH ALAM: The husband of celebrated artiste Ziana Zain, Armin Zaharin Ahmad Zambri, was charged at the Magistrate’s Court here today with causing injuries to his son on Feb 25.
Armin, 53, pleaded not guilty to the charge read out by the court interpreter before Magistrate Raja Noor Adilla Raja Mahyaldin.
Armin, who is currently unemployed, was accused of causing injuries and bruises on his son’s body after striking the latter with a rotan.
The incident allegedly took place at his home in Denai Alam here at about 4am on Feb 25.
Armin was charged under Section 324 of the Penal Code. If convicted, he faces a jail sentence of up to ten years or a fine or caning, or any of the two penalties.
“I did not abuse my son. I taught him how to recite (the Quran) and pray, but he did not understand and is imbecilic (bebal).
“I am responsible for four other children as well as my sick mother,” he said.
Deputy public prosecutor Megat Mahathir Megat Tharif Afendi, who prosecuted the case, requested bail be set at RM10,000.
Raja Noor Adilla set bail at RM5,000 with one surety and set April 4 for remention of the case.
It is understood that Ziana lodged a police report on Feb 27 against her husband, who was arrested by police on Friday to facilitate investigations.
The couple married in May 1998 and had four children together: Muhammad Aiman, 19, Muhammad Ammar, 14, and twins Muhammad Ariel and Siti Nur Kaseh, 9.