A 24-year-old woman has been sentenced to two years’ imprisonment by the High Court for causing the death of her newborn baby, whom she threw from the 38th floor of a condominium in Sentul Timur. The decision was delivered on Wednesday by Aslam Zainuddin after the accused pleaded guilty to an alternative charge.
The court ordered the sentence to take effect from the date of arrest on 27 February 2025. The accused, identified as Lua Mei Zhu, was seen lowering her head throughout the proceedings before breaking down in tears upon hearing the verdict.
According to the charge, she caused the death of her baby while her mental state was disturbed following childbirth. The offence took place at a condominium unit in Sentul Timur between 1.30pm and 9pm on 26 February 2025. The case was prosecuted under Section 309A of the Penal Code, punishable under Section 309B, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment and a possible fine upon conviction.
Case facts revealed that police were alerted by a man who discovered the infant with severe head injuries on the outer ledge of a ninth-floor unit at around 10.21pm on the same day. Authorities later proceeded to the 38th floor, where they found the accused inside a room.
Investigations showed that the baby had been thrown out of a bathroom window shortly after birth. The infant died from multiple injuries sustained from the fall. Further findings indicated that the accused acted in panic after delivering the child, highlighting how emotional distress can sometimes lead to irreversible and tragic consequences.
During mitigation, defence counsel Loke Kok Mun told the court that his client had been suffering from prolonged depression following a breakup with her boyfriend, who was of a different race and religion. He said she only realised she was pregnant during the final trimester and avoided seeking medical attention due to fear of societal stigma.
He added that she had been under severe emotional stress and was afraid to inform her family about the pregnancy. Following the incident, she underwent three months of psychiatric treatment at Hospital Bahagia Ulu Kinta in Perak, reflecting the deeper mental health struggles faced by individuals in similar circumstances.
However, Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohamad Shahrizzat Amadan urged the court to impose a heavier sentence, describing the offence as grave and unforgivable. He stressed that an innocent life had been lost and noted that the accused had other options available, including placing the baby for adoption.
He further pointed out that other family members were present in the house at the time, arguing that the tragic act could have been avoided. The prosecution called for justice for the infant, underscoring the severity of the crime and the irreversible loss of life.
