A 23-year-old restaurant assistant has been sentenced to three months in prison after admitting to hiding the birth of her baby by disposing of the infant’s body in a drain in Kuala Berang, Terengganu.
Nur Ain Adilin Mohd Rofiza was sentenced by Magistrate Athirah Hashim at the Magistrate’s Court on Monday after pleading guilty to the charge.
The court also fined her RM5,000, with an additional five months’ imprisonment if she fails to pay the fine. Her jail term takes effect from the date of conviction.
According to the charge, she had deliberately concealed the birth of a child by throwing the baby’s body into a drain at the Padang Setengah low-cost public housing area in Kuala Berang at about 10pm on Oct 15.
She was charged under Section 318 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum prison sentence of two years, a fine, or both upon conviction.
The case came to light after police received a call from a man at about 6.52pm on Oct 16, reporting the discovery of a baby’s body in a drain within the housing area.
Following the report, officers from the Hulu Terengganu district police headquarters’ Criminal Investigation Division launched an investigation and arrested Nur Ain at a roadside kiosk in Kampung Telaga, Kuala Berang, on Oct 17.
Further investigations found that she had allegedly disposed of the baby’s body to conceal the birth.
A post-mortem examination was subsequently conducted, while DNA samples were sent to the Chemistry Department for further analysis.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Nur Anith Nabilah Rusli handled the prosecution, while the accused was represented by National Legal Aid Foundation (YBGK) lawyer Nor Aziah Bunawan.
