A female college student was charged at the Kluang Magistrate’s Court on Friday with murdering a newborn baby girl last week.
However, no plea was recorded from the accused, Nurshazwen Mohd Idris, 19, after the charge was read before Magistrate Nurasidah A. Rahman, as murder cases fall under the jurisdiction of the High Court.
According to the charge sheet, Nurshazwen was accused of causing the death of a newly born baby girl at a house in Taman Setia Mutiara, Kluang, at about 10am on July 29.
The charge was made under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which carries the death penalty or imprisonment of between 30 and 40 years. If the death penalty is not imposed, the offender may also face a minimum of 12 strokes of whipping upon conviction.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Nik Noratini Nik Aznan handled the prosecution and informed the court that no bail offer was granted as the offence is a non-bailable crime.
The court later fixed October 8 for the next mention of the case, pending the completion of post-mortem and chemical reports.
Earlier, police confirmed that a 19-year-old male college student who was previously remanded in connection with the same case would be released and treated as a prosecution witness.
The male student had initially been remanded for seven days from July 30 before his remand was extended for another day to assist investigations under Sections 302 and 315 of the Penal Code.
Previously, Johor Police Chief Datuk Ab Rahaman Arsad said police detained the couple, who are both college students aged 19, to assist investigations into the case.
He said police received a report after a student was admitted to Hospital Enche Besar Hajjah Khalsom (HEBHK) after giving birth.
Investigations later found that the newborn was discovered by a college lecturer, while medical examinations at the hospital revealed that the female student had been carrying another baby, who was later safely delivered.
