IPOH: A 52-year-old babysitter was charged at the Magistrate’s Court here for the murder of a six-month-old girl.
Tan Wooi Cheng said “yes” and nodded when asked if she understood the charge under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which was read in Mandarin before Magistrate S. Punitha.
No plea was recorded yesterday.
Tan is accused of committing the offence at Taman Tawas Indah, Chemor between midnight on July 9 and 11am on July 12.
The police had on July 14 received a call from Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun to inform them that a baby had died two days after lapsing into a coma.
Tan, who was arrested on July 13, was initially investigated for neglecting or abusing a child, but the case was reclassified as murder.
If found guilty, she could face the gallows or be jailed up to 40 years and whipped at least 12 times.
Lawyer J. Matthews, who represented Tan, said his client has serious thyroid problems and hopes she will be given adequate medical attention.
Punitha set Oct 5 for mention.
Deputy public prosecutor Nurul Hidayu Zakaria prosecuted.
Meanwhile, a former construction worker who pleaded guilty to raping a public servant in April has admitted to a fresh charge of sexually harassing an 11-year-old girl.
Hassan Ahmad, 43, said “yes” when asked whether he admitted to the offence under Section 14 (a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act before Sessions Court judge Ainul Shahrin Mohamad.
Hassan was said to have held the hand of the girl with sexual intent, near the Ashby Road Flats in Ipoh on April 13 at about 1.30pm.
He faces a jail term of up to 20 years and whipping.
Deputy public prosecutor Qurratu’aini Khalifah prosecuted.
Ainul Shahrin set Aug 16 for sentencing.
Hassan had also, in late April, pleaded guilty to raping a 38-year-old public servant who was later found injured and traumatised by the roadside at Jalan Kamarudin Isa in Fair Park, here.
He was also charged with trespassing the rape victim’s house between 10pm on April 17 and 9am on April 18.
He pleaded guilty to all charges.
