KUALA LUMPUR, Nov. 8 -- A married couple were charged in the Ayer Keroh Sessions Court in Melaka yesterday with physically abusing their eight-year-old adopted son in separate incidents in August and October.

Malaysia Gazette reported that the accused, Badrul Amin Yazid, 27, and Nur Amiesya Saim, 24, pleaded not guilty when the charges were read separately before Judges Raja Noor Adilla Raja Mahyaldin and Rohatul Akmar Abdullah.

According to the charge sheet, the couple, as the child's adoptive parents, are accused of neglecting or exposing the boy to conditions likely to cause physical and emotional harm.

The alleged offences took place at two homes in Taman Merdeka Jaya and Taman Merdeka, Batu Berendam, at about 8.30pm on August 20 a...