TO CORRECTIONAL SCHOOL: The accused being led by policewomen from the temporary cell at the courthouse.
KUCHING: A student who slashed to death her newborn baby at a school in Betong last year was ordered to undergo three years rehabilitation at Melaka’s Henry Gurney correctional school until she reaches the age of 21.
High Court Judge Sangau Gunting made the order against the 17-year-old girl convicted for causing the death of the baby at the boarding school of SMK Ulu Layar between 7.40am and 8.30am on Oct 17 last year.
The girl was initially charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder but her charge was reduced to 304(a) of the same code for culpable homicide, which she pleaded guilty to.
In delivering the judgment, Justice Sangau considered the nature of offence, her mitigation and the girl’s disturbed state of mind when committing the offence.
The girl was reluctant to part from her parents in the court room and prior to the judgment, kept telling the officers from the Welfare Department that she wanted to go home.
She cried when the decision was passed and her parents sitting on the bench tried to hold back tears.
On the morning of the incident, she was alone in the hostel room when she gave birth to a live baby girl.
Taking a knife, she slashed the baby on the hand and other parts of the body, wrapped its body in a plastic bag and dumped it into a rubbish bin.
After that, she cleaned up the blood spattered on the floor with a sarung used when delivering the baby, left it on the floor and put the knife in a pail.
During recess time, three teachers went to the hostel to see her and she told them she had a miscarriage.
Spotting blood on the floor, one of the teachers queried her and she admitted that her dead baby had been thrown into the rubbish bin.
The teacher went to check the bin where she saw a black plastic bag that she took it out and ordered the girl to open. The police were informed as well as the ambulance. The medical assistant asked her where the knife was, and she took it from the pail and surrendered it.
She was later brought to the hospital for treatment and arrested for investigation the same day.
She said her action was due to anger and revenge as her boyfriend and father of the baby did not want to take responsibility for her pregnancy. Additionally, there was no blessing from his parents over their relationship.
Prior to the proceeding, she was ordered to undergo observation by a psychiatrist, the result of which showed she was deeply depressed.
It was learnt that the boyfriend had been charged in court and faces an imprisonment term of up to 20 years and whipping for raping a minor.
The accused was represented by defence counsel Micheal Tiang while DPP Nur Nisla Abdul Latif prosecuted.