Restaurant worker jailed 3 months, fined RM5,000 for concealing child’s birth

A 23-year-old restaurant worker in Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia, has been sentenced to three months in jail and fined RM5,000 for concealing the birth of her child by dumping the infant's body in a drain. Magistrate Nur Athirah Hashim also imposed an additional five months in jail if she fails to pay the fine. The incident occurred on October 15 at Perumahan Awam Kos Rendah, Padang Setengge, when the accused, Nur Ain Adilin Mohd Rofiza, disposed of the infant's body in a drain around 10pm.

The charge was under Section 318 of the Penal Code, which allows for a maximum of two years in jail or a fine or both upon conviction. Legal aid lawyer Nor Aziah Bunawan requested a minimum fine sentence, citing the accused's youth and panic as reasons. The defendant's guilty plea saved court and prosecution time, and she expressed remorse for her actions, promising not to repeat the offence.

Deputy public prosecutor Nur Anith Nabilah Rusli argued for a jail term, emphasizing the humanitarian aspect of the case, as it involved the defendant's own child and the need for a deterrent sentence. Police discovered an infant's body with its head and one arm missing in a drain in Kampung Padang Setengge on October 16. Post-mortem examination confirmed the infant was full-term.