Abusive step-mom escapes jail term

Ungwang was facing a possible fine of not less P30,000 but not more than P50,000 and an imprisonment term not less than seven years but not more than 10 years. The P10,000 is payable end of March 2016, failing which she will spend a year in prison. In mitigation, her attorney, Segaisi argued that the case is rare and unique therefore the court should not be harsh. She said the accused committed the crime in an endeavour to mould and assist the complaint to excel at school. He added that the child confessed in court that he hated the accused therefore she was subjected to difficult condition of raising a child who was not her  own.

“The accused is a first offender, a mother of three and breastfeeding her last infant. The husband is a police officer who is always out on duty and the accused takes responsibility as the head,” he said. Segaisi said a non-custodial sentence will be appropriate and will give the accused a lesson to never interfere with other people’s  children.