Judge Nurul Mardhiah Redza ordered the 54-year-old woman to serve her prison term from the date of her arrest on June 28.

The court also imposed a two-year good behaviour bond and ordered her to perform 40 hours of community service within four months of completing her prison sentence.

The accused, who was the guardian of the 13-year-old girl, was charged with abusing her by hitting her with a piece of wood, and a mortar and pestle, as well as slashing her with a knife.

The offences were committed at a house in Taman Bendahara, Kuala Selangor, in June.

She was charged under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, which provides for a maximum fine of RM50,000, imprisonment of up to 20 years, or both, upon conviction.

The girl, who had been in the woman’s care since her infancy, suffered broken teeth and multiple injuries on her body.

Investigations and a medical examination confirmed that the injuries sustained were consistent with physical abuse.

Deputy public prosecutor Nor Hakimi Rosedin urged the court to impose a proportionate and deterrent sentence as a lesson to both the accused and the wider community, citing the public interest and the alarming frequency of child abuse cases.

“I respectfully request the court to review the photographs of the victim’s injuries, which clearly show that the accused failed in her responsibilities as the victim’s guardian.

“The accused’s actions have left both physical and psychological scars on her adopted child, who is now suffering from trauma,” he said.

Lawyer Khairul Hazwan Rashid Redduan from the National Legal Aid Foundation, who represented the accused, said his client was unable to pay any fine, as she had no source of income and her husband is serving a prison sentence for a drug-related offence.