IPOH: Five-year-old Ho Yan Hui who died after 11 days in coma due to abuse from her mother, was caned so badly that she had 100 wounds all over her head and body.

Housewife Choong Mee Chin, 30, was sentenced yesterday by the High Court here to a total of 10 years in jail – six years for manslaughter and another four for abusing her daughter.

Deputy Public Prosecutor How May Ling said Yan Hui was abused over five months and caned with such force that a post-mortem showed that she had over 100 wounds on her head and body.

“She clearly suffered from constant physical abuse at the hands of the very person entrusted to protect her,” she said in pressing for maximum sentence.

Choong, who was initially charged with murder, had pleaded guilty to manslaughter after being offered the alternative charge under Section 304(b) of the Penal Code.

She also admitted to abusing Yan Hui by caning her on her head and body under Section 31(1) of the Child Act.

Both offences took place in the living room of a house in Laluan Kledang Utara 7, Menglembu, at about 9am on Aug 12, 2013.

Yan Hui, said How had died from brain abscess with septicaemia in all her inner organs, adding that she was not given the proper medical attention that could have saved her life.

“A home should have been Yan Hui’s sanctuary but in this case, it became her grave,” she said, adding that the girl died a slow and painful death.

In her judgment, Judicial Commissioner Noorin Badaruddin said family problems stemming from financial difficulties must not be used as an excuse to abuse a child.

“There are many other families facing financial problems but these parents still give love and care to their children.

“Although in our community it is normal to beat a child to discipline, abuse is not. Children should never be objects for parents to release their anger upon,” she said.

Choong, she added, should have sought help from the Welfare Department since Yan Hui was a special child.

Ordering for both sentences to run concurrently from Choong’s arrest on Aug 16, 2013, Noorin also directed her to post a RM3,000 good behaviour bond over three years and bring her two other children to the Welfare Department for observation every month.

Earlier during mitigation, defence counsel Chong Kok Yew said Choong had suffered from depression after giving birth to her third child in 2011.

“Her condition worsened due to having to care for the deceased, who besides suffering from speech delay, was stubborn and naughty, as well as her two other children,” said Chong.

The Star