A grandmother and her son-in-law were charged in a Johor Baru Magistrate's Court with abusing a girl for the past seven years.

Nor Azaizah Badang, 56, the grandmother of the victim and Maswandi Omar, 35, the uncle, however, pleaded not guilty when the charge was read out to them separately before magistrate Noor Aisyah Ahmad.

According to the charge sheet, both accused had been taking care of the now 20-year-old victim since she was 13.

However, during the period, the victim claimed to have been abused by them and had suffered physical injury.

They allegedly committed the offence at a house in Jalan Padi Huma 9, Bandar Baru Uda between 2010 and May this year.

They were both charged under Section 31 (1) (a) of the Child Act 2001 and punishable under Section 31 (1) of the same act which carries a fine of up to RM50,000 or imprisonment not exceeding 20 years or both, if convicted.

Earlier, deputy public prosecutor Muhammad Syafiq Mohd Ghazali offered the accused bail of RM20,000 each.

However, counsel Nor Shahid Abdul Malik, representing Noor Azaizah, applied for lower bail on the grounds that his client was suffering from diabetes and is only earning between RM500 and RM600 per month helping a friend selling nasi lemak, apart from supporting a school-going child.

The court then set a RM5,000 bail for Nor Azaizah, while Maswandi, who was unrepresented, was allowed RM8,000 bail with one surety.

Court fixed July 10 as remention for case management.

- Bernama