A nursery owner and two of her employees were charged in the Sessions Court in Kajang today with the abuse of two toddlers and a baby, which recording became viral on the social media two weeks ago.

However, the nursery owner, Sayani Ahmad, 46, and her two employees - Nur Azureen Mohamad Nordin, 24, and Nurhazirah Mohd Azuki, 25 - pleaded not guilty to all the charges before Sessions judge Noridah Adam.

Sayani faced four charges, while Nur Azureen and Nurhazirah were each charged with three counts, including for abetting Sayani.

On the first three counts, Sayani, as the person having the care of the three children - two of them aged one year and four months, and another, 11 months old - was charged with abusing or exposing the children in a manner likely to cause them physical or emotional injury at Taska Ilham Kasih, No 1, Jalan 15/5, Garden Home, Section 15, Bandar Baru Bangi, Hulu Langat at 10.12am on Jan 3.

The charges, under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, provide an imprisonment for up to RM20,000, or imprisonment for up to 10 years, or both, if found guilty.

On the fourth count, Sayani was charged with running an unregistered child care centre at the same place between June 2016 and Jan 19, 2017.

The charge under Section 6(2) of the Child Care Centre Act 1984 provides for a fine of up to RM1,000 for the first offence, and no more than RM2,000 for a second or subsequent offence.

Nur Azureen and Nurhazirah were charged with three counts of abetting Sayani in abusing the three children at the same location, time and date.

They were charged under Section 109 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, which provides a fine not exceeding RM20,000, or jail term of up to 10 years, or both, if convicted.

DPP Siti Noor Hafizan Zakaria offered bail at RM35,000 for Sayani on all four counts, and RM30,000 each for Nur Azureen and Nurhazirah.

However, lawyer Joseph George, representing the three women, requested a lower bail on the grounds that they were the breadwinners of their families.

"The first accused, Sayani, has two children and her husband does not work as he has kidney problem.

"Nur Azureen and Nurhazirah are not married and came to Kuala Lumpur to earn a living to support their families," he added.

Following which, Noridah allowed all the accused bail of RM10,000 in one surety each. They were also ordered not to intimidate the victims and their families.

The court fixed Feb 21 for mention.

The case came to light when a photograph showing the children with their legs and arms tied, and mouths covered with napkins in a nursery, went viral on social media two weeks ago.

- Bernama