SIBU: A man from Kanowit is placed on a bond of good behaviour for three years after pleading guilty to a charge of child abuse.
Sessions Court Judge Caroline Bee Majanil, in her sentencing yesterday, also committed the accused to undergo 200 hours of community service.
Tan San Belati, 33, was charged under Section 31(1)(a)of Child Act 2001 (Act 611), which is punishable under Section 31(1) of the same Act.
He is said to have abused a girl, aged four years and 11 months, who was under his care inside a rented room at Hardin Lane between 5pm and 7pm on Oct 13 last year.
According to facts of the case, at about 11.30pm on Oct 13 last year at the central police station here, a policewoman saw a woman with a child, who appeared frightened and had bruises on her face.
The woman told the policewoman that her daughter was hit by her boyfriend. However, when policewoman advised her to lodge a police report, the latter refused.
Later, the policewoman was instructed by her superior to lodge a report as a first-hand information.
On the following day around 12.30am, police arrested Tan San at a rented room.
The girl was brought to Sibu Hospital, where medical examination revealed that the injuries on her face corresponded to those caused by beating with a blunt object.
In the court, however, Tan San insisted that he hit the girl only with his hand.