MELAKA: A 34-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to a charge of slapping his daughter, causing her injury, after she repeatedly used the word "bodoh" (stupid).

He claimed trial after the charge was read to him before Magistrate Uthman Abd Ghani here on Wednesday (July 2).

According to the charge sheet, the father of three is accused of intentionally causing injury to his four-year-old daughter by slapping her on the cheek.

It is believed that the incident occurred after the child repeatedly used the word “bodoh" despite being reprimanded by her father, which angered him and led to the slap.

The offence allegedly took place at the man's workplace in Taman Cheng Utama here at about 2pm on April 7.

The charge was framed under Section 323 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt.

It carries a maximum penalty of one year’s imprisonment or a fine of up to RM2,000 upon conviction.

DPP Farah Nabihah Sofian proposed bail of RM10,000.

Lawyer Amritpal Singh, representing the accused, appealed for lower bail as his client had recently been laid off and has to support three children as well as both of his parents.

The accused and his wife divorced four years ago.

The court granted bail of RM2,000 with one surety and set Aug 11 as the next mention date.