In a recent court decision, a 38-year-old woman has been sentenced to three years in prison for pouring hot water on her 13-year-old son. The incident occurred in their residence in a government housing estate in Sungai Udang on June 27, 2022, around 2:56 AM.

The accused pleaded guilty after charges were read against her, and the charges were filed under Section 326 of the Penal Code, accompanied by Section 326A, allowing for a maximum prison sentence of 20 years and the possibility of fines or whipping upon conviction.

The act of pouring hot water on the son was allegedly intentional, with the accused expressing anger as his son, the second of five siblings, was caught purportedly using her mobile phone's internet data to watch explicit adult videos. A friend of the victim witnessed the injuries sustained from the incident and reported it to their mother, who subsequently filed a police report.

During the court proceedings, the accused, a mother of five, who was not represented by legal counsel, appealed for a lenient sentence. She highlighted her responsibilities, including caring for three young children aged six (with disabilities), four, and a six-month-old baby. The accused claimed to have experienced increased pressure since the incident, leading her, a psychiatric patient, to augment her medication dosage from 50 milligrams to 100 milligrams daily under medical supervision.

The court ultimately handed down a three-year prison sentence. 

Do you think the mother's action is justified or unacceptable? Comment below.

Source: Sinar Harian