Mother charged for causing death of newborn

A young mother pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here today to causing the death of her newborn baby last month.

Siti Fazlena Sahili, 20, a factory worker, was accused of throwing the 2.8-kg baby girl from her third-floor unit of the Desa Mentari Flats in Sungai Way, here, at 11 am on Sept 16.

The charge, under Section 309A of the Penal Code and punishable under Section 309B of the same act, carries a maximum jail term of 20 years and fine upon conviction.

Earlier, deputy public prosecutor Chong Yin Xin proposed bail of RM20,000 with two sureties.

Lawyer Kamarul Zaman Abdul Rahman, for Siti Fazlena, applied to the court to reduce the amount, saying his client had a low income and had to support her father who was an accident victim.

Judge Yasmin Abdul Razak set bail at RM12,000 with one surety and Nov 23 for mention.