Johor man pleads guilty to using hot iron in assault on eight-year-old niece

Johor man pleads guilty to using hot iron in 

assault on eight-year-old niece

The accused Muhammad Faiz Aresah being escorted by policemen to the Johor Bahru Sessions Court today where he was charged for child abuse by using a hot iron to his niece’s arm. Oct 2, 2025. — Picture by Ben Tan

Thursday, 02 Oct 2025 1:49 PM MYT


JOHOR BAHRU, Oct 2 — A 21-year-old architecture firm employee pleaded guilty in the Sessions Court here today to a charge of abusing his eight-year-old niece at a house in Pontian late last month.

The accused Muhammad Faiz Aresah made the plea after the charge was read out by a court interpreter before Judge Datuk Ahmad Kamal Arifin Ismail.

Based on the charge sheet, the accused, as a person who had responsible custody of an eight-year-old girl, abused her with a hot iron at a house in Kampung Parit Jamal, Benut, Pontian at 2.30pm on September 16.

Muhammad Faiz was charged under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001 for abusing and causing physical injury to a child under his care.


The offence carries a fine not exceeding RM50,000 or a maximum jail term of 20 years or both, if convicted.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Zuhainie Zull Kafli did not offer any bail as the offence involved was non-bailable.

However, the lawyer for the accused, K. Bharathi from the National Legal Aid Foundation (YBGK), requested the court to use its discretion in granting bail.


She said that the accused draws a salary of RM1,000 a month from an architectural firm in Pontian and is supporting his other siblings who are still in school.

The court then allowed the accused bail of RM7,000 with one surety, along with additional conditions.

This includes for his international passport to be surrendered and he will report to the Benut police station in Pontian once a month.

The court fixed November 6 for mention, in addition to submission of a medical report.

Prior to this, Pontian police chief Superintendent Mohammad Shofee Tayib said the incident was reported by the victim’s school teacher on September 26 after she noticed there were severe burn marks on her right arm.

He said checks on the victim in hospital revealed that she was suspected to have been physically abused with thermal burns over her right upper limb.

***

Worse than an outsider.