2 couples, domestic worker plead not guilty in multiple assault cases

PETALING JAYA: Two married couples and an Indonesian domestic worker have pleaded not guilty in separate Johor courts over a series of alleged assault cases involving a toddler and multiple maids.

The cases were heard in a sessions court and three magistrates’ courts, Berita Harian and Utusan Malaysia reported.

At the sessions court, Indonesian domestic worker Yulia Arnida, 34, pleaded not guilty to a charge of causing physical injury to a one-year-old girl last year.

She is accused of pulling the child’s hair with enough force to lift her head off the ground and yanking her right arm, causing bruising, at a house on Jalan Ledang in Taman Johor on Dec 21.

The charge was brought under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, which carries a fine of up to RM20,000, imprisonment of up to 20 years, or both, upon conviction.

In separate proceedings at the magistrates’ courts, the two couples pleaded not guilty to charges of jointly causing hurt to Yulia at the same address on Dec 22.

The accused are Firdaus Sha’aban, 33, and his wife Nurafiqah Nabila Hazhar, 33, and Hirzihaziq Abulae, 30, and his wife, Nurfarah Ainna Hazhar, 34.

The charges were framed under Section 323 of the Penal Code, which carries up to a year’s imprisonment, a fine of up to RM2,000, or both, if convicted.

Firdaus and Nurafiqah also face two charges of assaulting two other domestic workers – Yatina Yusnita and Siti Hajar – between 2pm and 4pm on June 11 this year at a house in Taman Daya. Both pleaded not guilty before separate magistrates.

Hirzihaziq and Nurfarah, meanwhile, pleaded not guilty to charges of criminal intimidation against Yatina and Siti Hajar, respectively, at Kampung Melayu Majidee on June 12.

The charges were brought under Section 506 of the Penal Code, which carries up to two years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both.

Firdaus faces two further charges of unlawfully possessing the passports of Yatina and Siti Hajar, allegedly at the Johor Bahru Utara police headquarters at about 7.30pm on June 13.

He pleaded not guilty to both charges, which were brought under Section 12(1)(f) of the Passports Act 1966 and carry a fine of up to RM10,000, imprisonment of up to five years, or both.

The cases are being prosecuted by deputy public prosecutors Sarah Siti Aisyah Mustapha Kamal, Anis Shafeeqah Mohd Shariffudin and Nor Deana Aqilah Aliman.

Lawyers Kamal Hisham Jaafar and Nurainaa Kamilah Zalizan, representing all four accused, applied for lower bail, citing family circumstances and dependent children.