A 62-year-old woman who works as a document runner has been charged in the Penang Sessions Court with trafficking a baby girl for the purpose of exploitation in 2021.
She is accused of trafficking the infant, born on 17 November 2021, in violation of the Child Act, which prohibits the unlawful transfer of possession or custody of a child. The alleged offence took place at Island Hospital on Jalan Macalister at 1.45pm on 24 November 2021.
The charge falls under Section 14 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007, which carries a sentence of between five and 30 years in prison and whipping if convicted.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Puteri Nor Nadia Iqbal appeared for the prosecution, while Tang was represented by lawyer RSN Rayer.
The prosecution requested bail of RM20,000, but Rayer appealed for a lower amount, stating that Tang is a housewife with two children and suffers from health issues requiring treatment at a hospital in Putrajaya.
The court set bail at RM8,000 and ordered Tang to surrender her passport. The case has been fixed for mention on 8 January.
