Factory worker and woman charged with burying baby

MELAKA: A factory worker and 23-year-old woman were today charged with concealing the birth of a child three years ago.

Factory operator Muhammad Hazmeer Othman, 27, and odd job worker Ain Nurfarhani Edayu Abdul Razak claimed trial to separate charges of concealing the birth of a child by secretly burying its body.

They were accused of committing the offence at C 8152 Kg Tun Abd Razak, Bukit Katil about 7.30pm on March 20, 2014.

The offence, under Section 318 of the Penal Code for concealment of birth by secret disposal of a dead body, carries a maximum two years' jail, fine, or both.

Lawyer Mohd Azhar Mohd Ghazali who represented Muhammad Hazmeer, appealed to the court for a lower bail on the grounds that his client had a family to support.

"My client is only a factory operator earning less than RM2,000 per month. He is now married and has to take care of his pregnant wife who will be delivering in two month's time," he said.

Meanwhile at separate court, counsel Haslinda Abu Bakar who represented Ain Nurfarhani, also applied for a lower bail as her client has a young child to support.

"My client has to support her mother and her child who is only four-years-old.

"She also doesn't have a permanent job. Her salary last month was only RM440," she said.

Magistrate Mohd Firdaus Saleh fixed RM4,000 bail with a surety for Hazmeer and set Sept 28 for mention while magistrate Norina Maludin fixed RM3,000 bail with one surety for Ain Nurfarhani.

She fixed Sept 14 for mention of Ain Nurfarhani’s case.