According to a report by Star Online, Nor Zuliana Tahir, 34, was charged for offences committed under Section 31(1) of the Child Act and Section 304A of the Penal Code for negligence and child abuse which caused death.

She was fined RM15,000 for the first offence and RM10,000 for the second, with another fine of RM15,000 for her husband, Zuhairi Kassim, 40, for abusing his stepson, Muhammad Akhil Mustaqim.

Zuhairi was also charged under the same act.

The offences were committed at their home at the Permai Ria apartments in Tasik Permai, Ampang, on May 23, 2014 and May 26, 2014.

DPP Noor Fadzlin Zawawi had earlier pushed for the couple to be imprisioned, but the couple’s counsel , Ariff Amirul Abdul Jani pleaded for leniency for Zuliana who is eight months pregnant and a ligther sentence for Zuhairi, a taxi driver, as he was the breadwinner of the family.

Zuhairi was convicted under the same section of the Child Act and will have to pay RM15,000 or spend 15 months in prison if he is unable to pay.

The couple have two kids from their marriage. Zuliana has four children from her previous marriage including Muhammad Akhil.

The sentences were handed out by Sessions Court judge Suraiya Mustafa Kamal.