KUALA LUMPUR: A former babysitter, 66, cried in the dock as she pleaded for leniency after admitting to mistreating an 18-day newborn by feeding him milk mixed with flu medicine last month.
Clad in a purple collared T-shirt and a pair of orange three-quarter pants, Hew Foong Chun apologised profusely for her actions before Sessions Court judge Dr Azrol Abdullah.
"I beg for your forgiveness. I did not do it deliberately. I thought the baby had a flu, I wanted him to be well," she said.
She had pleaded guilty to the charge read out to her in Cantonese framed under Section 31(1)(a) of the Act for ill-treatment, neglect, abandonment or exposure of children which carries a maximum fine of RM50,000 or a jail sentence of not more than 20 years or both upon conviction.
She had committed the act which could be detrimental to the baby's health at 2.21am on Sept 15 at a unit at Residensi Bukit Jalil.
During proceedings, the single mother who self-mitigated as she does not have a lawyer had complained of a headache and asked the court to give her paracetamol.
This prompted the judge to ask Hew to sit on the bench in the dock.
Hew said she had multiple health issues and was jobless.
"I have hearing and eye problems. I have not seen a doctor for my heart issues as I have no money. I do not have a home either. I will stay wherever I work.
"I have a child who has been retrenched from work and is suffering from depression," she said.
Deputy public prosecutor Mohamad Ikhwan Mohd Nasir sought for an appropriate sentence against Hew as a lesson and reminder to other babysitters as deterrent.
"The victim was only 18 days old and defenceless. There were closed circuit television recordings (CCTV) of her actions and public interest overrides self-interest," he said.
He told the court the baby was doing well after the incident.
Azrol, in sentencing Hew, said he had considered her early plea of guilt and that she had cooperated with the court and prosecution.
He sentenced her to a fine of RM8,000 and in default nine months jail.
He also imposed a two-year good behaviour bond with a surety of RM1,000 and ordered her to perform 90 hours of community service within six months from today.
After hearing the sentence, Hew appealed for the fine to be reduced as she does not have money.
"I am sorry. Can you help, please? I really have no money," she cried.
To this, Azrol said the case involved children and it warranted the attention of the court.
According to the facts of the case, the baby's father had on Sept 8 hired Hew to care for his newborn for 20 days for RM4,500.
From Sept 11, he became suspicious when he noticed his son was mostly asleep and his health was unlike other babies.
On Sept 15 at about 2.30pm, he checked his home's CCTV and discovered footage of Hew putting flu medicine into a milk bottle to feed the baby.