Lawyer Hazwan Hamidun said the lawsuit was filed at the High Court yesterday on behalf of Ahmad Aysar Wildan Ahmad Syamil Hadi by his father, acting as his guardian ad litem.

Hazwan told reporters that the civil suit named Raja Noor Iffa Nadia Raja Nordin, 29, Nur Azreen Nazira Mohamad, 24, and Nuurakmal Syahirah Abdullah, 35, as well as the centre’s owner, Salawati Sidek, 51, as defendants.

According to the statement of claim, Raja Noor Iffa, named as the first defendant, was the primary perpetrator of the abuse. She pleaded guilty before the sessions court on Dec 16 last year to a charge under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001 and was fined RM15,000.

The second and third defendants, Nur Azreen and Nuurakmal, who were allegedly present in the same room during the incident, were accused of failing to intervene or prevent Raja Noor Iffa from abusing and injuring Aysar Wildan, who was only four months old at the time.

Hazwan said Salawati was accused of negligence for failing to ensure that the caregivers adhered to professional standards and performed their duties in a competent manner, holding her vicariously liable for her employees’ actions.

The plaintiff is also seeking RM250,000 in aggravated, exemplary, and special damages to be assessed by the court, as well as legal costs and interest to be borne by the defendants.

The incident, which occurred between Jan 1 and 3, 2023, left the only child of two medical officers with brain hemorrhaging, a skull fracture, and retinal hemorrhages in both eyes.

The victim’s father, Ahmad Syamil Hadi, said his son had been officially registered with the social welfare department as a person with disabilities under the “multiple disabilities” category.

He said the civil suit was filed after the conclusion of the criminal proceedings against the defendants.

“My son requires weekly physiotherapy. His right hand and leg are no longer functioning normally. His development is delayed and due to his emotional state, doctors suspect he may have autism,” he said.