KUALA LUMPUR: A caretaker of a welfare home linked to Global Ikhwan Services and Business Holdings (GISBH) has pleaded not guilty to child abuse over the caning of a six-year-old boy.
Mohd Syahid Hanapiah,35, made his plea after the charge was read out to him before Selayang Sessions Court judge Lailatul Zuraida Harron @ Harun.
Syahid, who was unrepresented, is accused of abusing the boy by caning him in a manner likely to cause physical injuries at a premises in Bandar Country Homes in Rawang between February and September this year.
The charge under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001 for ill-treatment, neglect, abandonment or exposure of children carries a maximum fine of RM50,000 or a jail sentence of not more than 20 years or both.
Deputy public prosecutor Nurilya Ellyna Nor Azmal did not offer bail.
"However, if the court wants to use its discretion to offer bail, the prosecution asks for it to be set at RM20,000 with one surety."
She also requested that Syahid be barred from meeting the victim, report to the nearest police station periodically and be contactable by the authorities at all times.
Syahid asked for a lower bail as he was struggling to find a job and was facing family issues.
Lailatul Zuraida set bail at RM10,000 with one surety.
She also ruled that he must not meet with the victim and witnesses until case disposal, report to the nearest police station monthly and be contactable at anytime by the authorities.
The court set Nov 5 for mention.
Previously, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain said police have detected several videos of alleged child abuse at homes linked to GISBH.
So far, 572 children have been rescued from GISBH-linked homes and police have discovered that the children have suffered physical and emotional abuse. Some were even sexually assaulted.
GISBH chairman and chief executive officer Datuk Nasiruddin Mohd Ali has said that "one or two" sodomy cases occurred in its welfare homes but only involved several people.