A 46-year-old female caregiver has been charged in two separate Sessions Courts here today for allegedly neglecting a 12-month-old baby and disposing of the infant’s body last month.
Goh Mui Leng pleaded not guilty to both charges when they were read out separately in court.
In the first case, before Judge Datuk Ahmad Kamal Arifin Ismail, Goh was accused of neglecting the baby at a house near Jalan Hijauan 2, Horizon Hills, Iskandar Puteri, on July 20. She faces a maximum of 20 years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to RM50,000 under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001 if convicted.
In the second case, before Judge Datuk Che Wan Zaidi Che Wan Ibrahim, she was charged with disposing of the baby’s body around Jalan Mohd Salleh, Pekan Nenas, Pontian, at 8 p.m. on July 21, allegedly to conceal the death and avoid legal consequences. The offence carries a maximum of seven years’ imprisonment and a fine under Section 201 of the Penal Code.
The prosecution was conducted by Deputy Public Prosecutors Zuhainie Zull Kafli and Shamira Mohd Luthfi Ismail, while Goh is represented by lawyer Ismail Hafiz Iskandar Shah.
During the bail hearing, Ismail Hafiz informed the court that Goh is a single mother with two school-going children aged 10 and 12, and also cares for her elderly 64-year-old mother.
Goh was granted bail of RM10,000 for each charge, with two additional conditions: surrendering her international passport and reporting monthly to the Iskandar Puteri Police Headquarters.
The case is set for remention on October 3.
