Singaporean Couple Charged With Abusing Their Children

JOHOR BAHARU (Malaysia), April 27 (Bernama) -- A Singaporean couple was charged in the Magistrate's Court here Friday with three counts of abusing their three children. Idris Yaacob, 46, and the victims'stepmother, Zarina Ibrahim, 39, however, claimed trial to committing the offences on their son, aged seven, and daughters aged 10 and 14, at Kampung Melayu Gelang Patah near here about noon on April 22, 2012. They were charged under Section 31 (1) (a) of the Child Act and are liable to be fined a maximum of RM20,000 or jailed not more than 10 years, if convicted. Prosecuting officer Insp Hasbullah Noor requested the court to impose bail at RM45,000 on each of them but the two accused who work as music teachers mitigated for a lesser sum saying they could not contact their family members and could not affort the amount. Magistrate Hafizah Johor Ariff Johor allowed them bail at RM25,000 each and set June 11 for mention to fix the hearing dates. The case drew wide media attention after the eldest child herself lodged a police report on the alleged phsyical and emotional abuse inflicted on them by their parents. (US$1=RM3.06) -- BERNAMA