SIBU: A 20-year-old man was sentenced by the Sessions Court here to 16 years in jail for physically abusing his four-month-old nephew.
Judge Stella Augustine Druce meted the sentence on Jackson Sunying yesterday, after the accused pleaded guilty to a charge under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001.
Jackson being led out of the court following sentencing.
The section provides for a maximum fine of RM50,000 or 20 years’ jail, or both, upon conviction.
Jackson was also sentenced to an additional three-month imprisonment after the court found him guilty of providing false information to police, in connection with the investigation into the abuse of the child.
The abuse took place at a house in Lorong Refflesia, Sibu Jaya between 7.16am and 9.55am on Oct 1, when Jackson physically assaulted the infant by hitting and slapping his body and head, and slamming him on a thin mattress on the floor.
The infant’s grandmother discovered the child in a weak state upon her return home and brought him to Sibu Hospital, where the baby was placed in the Intensive Care Unit.
The infant’s father was initially arrested after Jackson told police that the former was responsible for the child’s injuries.
However, police subsequently arrested Jackson on Oct 5 after it was revealed that the child’s father had installed a closed-circuit television camera in the house, which recorded Jackson committing the act against the child.
In mitigation, Jackson told the court that he was remorseful over his wrongful act.