IPOH, July 14 — A child care centre owner and two of her assistants were charged at the Sessions Court here with neglecting and physically abusing six children in Taman Meru Perdana 2, Chemor last week.

The accused were child care centre owner Rozidah Yahaya, 51, and child care assistants Noor Shafina Abdul Khair, 26, and Wan Suhaila Mior Khir, 32.

Noor Shafina was slapped with three counts of physically abusing two children while Wan Suhaila was slapped with three counts of physically abusing three children.

Both Noor Shafina and Wan Suhaila pleaded not guilty to all the charges when it was read to them before Judge Ainul Shahrin Mohamad.

All the charges were framed under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act, which carries imprisonment for up to 20 years, or a maximum fine of RM50,000, or both, if found guilty.

Noor Shafina was accused of abusing a two-year-old boy twice and a two-year-old girl in a separate incident at the child care centre in Taman Meru Perdana 2, Chemor between 2.14pm to 2.22pm and between 4.15pm to 4.18pm on July 6.

For Wan Suhaila, she was accused of abusing two two-year-old girls on July 6 at the same child care centre between 9.37am to 9.39am and 1.23pm to 2.16pm.

She was also accused of abusing another three-year-old girl at the same child care centre on July 4 at around 4.15pm.

Deputy public prosecutor Qurratu’aini Khalifah and Evangelin Simon Silvaraj prosecuted while Noor Shafina was represented by lawyer Mohammad Syarifuddin Zaid and Wan Suhaila was represented by Raja Mohd Iskandar Zulkharnian Raja Abdul Malek.

The court set bail for Noor Shafina at RM7,000 with one surety and Wan Suhaila at RM8,000 without surety for all the charges.

Meanwhile, Rozidah claimed trial before Judge Azizah Ahmad in a separate courtroom for leaving a two-year-old girl without supervision for an unreasonable period, which resulted in the injury to the left arm of the child.

Rozidah was accused of committing the offence at the same child care centre between 4.14pm to 4.15pm on July 6 and was charged under the same section.

Deputy public prosecutor K. Darinee prosecuted and lawyers Muhd Alif Afandi and Mohamad Salihen Mastor represented Rozidah.

Azizah, set bail at RM4,000 with one surety and ordered the accused to report to the nearest police station once a month until the proceeding ends.