A 32-year-old man , arrested on allegations that he fisted had his nine-year-old niece in her face, was fined $50,000 in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court on Tuesday.

He has been charged cruelty to a child.

In addition to paying the fine, Resident Magistrate Simone Wolfe-Reece sentenced the accused to six months in prison, suspended for two years.

Allegations are that the accused fisted the child in her face, causing swelling and bruises.

Attorney-at-law Earl Delisser, representing the accused, said his client fosters the complainant, as her parents are overseas.

Delisser said, on the day of the incident, Hasphall saw the complainant loitering on the streets and he became very upset.

The attorney told the court it was while taking home the child in his motor vehicle, that Hasphall had slapped the child on her arm and it caught her in the face.