Children’s home caregiver gets 11 years behind bars, five strokes for abusing two young boys

“KUALA LUMPUR, May 21 — A caregiver at a children’s welfare home was sentenced by the Ampang Sessions Court today to 11 years’ imprisonment and five strokes of the cane after pleading guilty to six charges involving sexual offences and unnatural sex against two boys earlier this year. Judge Norshila Kamarudin ordered Retna Velu, 25, to serve the prison sentences concurrently from the date of his arrest on April 3, 2026. The court imposed one stroke of the cane for each of the first five charges, while no whipping sentence was imposed for the offence under Section 15(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017. In addition, the judge ordered the accused to undergo counselling throughout his imprisonment and placed him under police supervision for two years upon completion of his sentence. Under three charges, the man was accused of committing unnatural sex against two boys aged eight and 10 years and five months at a care centre in Batu Caves between February and March 2026. The charges were framed under Section 377C of the Penal Code, which carries a jail term of between five and 20 years, and whipping. Retna also faced two charges of committing physical sexual assault against the same victims at the same location in March 2026 under Sections 14(a) and 14(b) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, which provide for a maximum prison sentence of 20 years and whipping. For another charge, he was accused of committing non-physical sexual assault against the 10-year-and-five-month-old victim at the same location and during the same period under Section 15(a)(i) of the same Act, which carries a maximum jail term of 10 years, a fine of up to RM20,000, or both. Earlier, the mother of the eight-year-old victim said in her victim impact statement that her child had become withdrawn and fearful of speaking to or interacting with others following the incident. “I received complaints from the school that my child’s academic performance had deteriorated and he often appeared tired. However, teachers at the school provided counselling and he now seems to be improving,” she said. Meanwhile, the aunt of the 10-year-and-five-month-old victim said her nephew remained emotionally unstable, fearful of strangers, especially men, and frequently spoke to family members about the traumatic incident. Deputy public prosecutors Nadiah Malek Fauzie and Muhammad Hairul Iqram Hairuddin urged the court to impose a heavy sentence as a lesson to others, taking into account public interest and the deep psychological impact on the victims. “The prosecution also sought separate prison sentences for all six charges, as well as a police supervision order and counselling throughout the imprisonment period,” Nadiah said. Retna, who was unrepresented, appealed for a lighter sentence. Also present as watching brief counsel for the complainants and Selangor-based Pertubuhan Kebangkitan Tiga Tangan were S. Kirthen and S. Premila. The man still faces nine similar charges involving different victims before Ampang Sessions Court judge Ho Kwong Chin, with sentencing set for June 4. — Bernama

Summary generated from the RSS feed of Malay Mail Education. All article rights belong to the original publisher. Click through to read the full piece on www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia.