Soldier charged with child abuse after viral video shows kicking incident

A 40-year-old soldier faced charges in the Kota Baru Sessions Court for allegedly kicking his 5-year-old daughter at a Jalan Kuala Krai eatery on Friday night. Judge Zulkifli Ablah read the charge, and the accused entered a not-guilty plea while requesting a trial. The charge falls under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, punishable by a fine of up to RM50,000, imprisonment of up to 20 years, or both.

Deputy public prosecutor Syazalia Che Suhaimin argued the case was serious because the victim was the soldier's own child, while defence lawyer Zuhaidie Akmal Hasan Basri emphasized the man's family responsibilities and lack of prior offenses. The court granted bail of RM10,000 with one surety, imposing reporting, passport surrender, and no-contact conditions, and set Oct 22 for the next hearing. Police had earlier located the suspect and his daughter after the incident was captured in a viral video, leading to his arrest at Pengkalan Chepa police station.