Court denies bail for 15-year old charged with murdering her newborn

SHAH ALAM - The 15-year old girl who was believed to be a rape victim has to spend time in jail while awaiting trial for the murder of her newborn baby.

This was after the Kemaman magistrate’s court, in Terengganu, today, denied her bail.

The girl who could not be identified was charged with murdering the boy at a house in Seri Bandi, Kemaman, between 7am and 9am on Feb 8.

The charge under Section 302 of the Penal Code carries a mandatory death sentence, if convicted.

However, no plea was recorded from the teenager as the case was under the purview of the High Court.

According to the girl’s lawyer Nurainie Haziqah Shafii, the court had denied her client bail.

She said in pleading for bail, she argued that although it was a non-bailable offence, the court has discretion to grant bail.

“In my submissions for bail to be granted, I had asked the court to consider that my client was underage and that she had just given birth.

“I also argued that this was a public interest case, but the bail was denied,” Nurainie said when contacted.

Magistrate Tengku Eliana Tuan Kamaruzaman then fixed March 16 for mention.

Deputy public prosecutor Nur Azhani Azman conducted the prosecution.

It was reported that a 15-year old girl who became pregnant after being raped, was arrested when police found the dead body of a newborn baby at a house in Kemaman on Feb 8.

Initial investigations by police revealed that the baby had been stabbed with a sharp object.