The Sessions Court in Kuala Pilah imposed a fine of RM10,000, or one year in jail, and 240 hours of community work on a woman who neglected a three-year-old child under her care.

Shamsinar Ambia, 36, committed the offence at a rented house in Kampung Parit Buluh, Tampin, at 7pm last Thursday.

In mitigation, she told judge Nariman Badruddin that it was her first offence.

"I am poor and have three children aged 13, 14, and 17 who are still schooling; I am not employed and my husband does not have a stable job," she told the court.

However, deputy public prosecutor Nik Azhan Hakim Nik Mahmood urged the court to impose an appropriate sentence as the punishment under Section 33(1)(c) of the Child Act 2001 had been increased to RM20,000 or imprisonment of not more than five years or both.

Shamsinar who was unrepresented, said she would settle the fine.

- Bernama