Soldier charged with kicking 5-year-old daughter

A soldier was charged in the Kota Bharu sessions court today with abusing his daughter by kicking her at a restaurant last Friday night.

The accused, 40, pleaded not guilty after the charge was read before judge Zulkifli Ablah, Berita Harian reported.

He is accused of abusing a girl aged five years and three months at a restaurant on Jalan Kuala Krai here at 10.55pm on Sept 11.

The charge, framed under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, carries a maximum fine of RM50,000, up to 20 years’ jail or both, upon conviction.

Deputy public prosecutor Syazalia Che Suhaimin did not offer bail, citing the victim’s relationship to the accused as his biological daughter and the seriousness of the offence.

Defence lawyer Zuhaidie Akmal Hasan Basri applied for minimum bail, saying his client had no prior record and is the sole breadwinner for three children and his wife who has cancer and chronic kidney disease.

The court granted bail of RM10,000 with one surety and ordered the accused to report to the nearest police station every two months, surrender his passport and refrain from contacting the victim or witnesses.

Oct 22 was fixed for case mention.

The charge follows a viral video of a man kicking a child at a restaurant, which prompted a police search for the duo.