Latest news with #RofiahMohamad
Sinar Daily
4 days ago
- Sinar Daily
Former private college student jailed three months, fined RM10,000 for infanticide
The 23-year-old woman to serve the jail sentence from the date of her arrest, taking into account the periods she had already been detained, from July 10 to Sept 14, 2020 and from Dec 30, 2020, to Jan 15, 2021. 08 Aug 2025 03:40pm A former private college student was sentenced by the High Court today to three months' imprisonment and fined RM10,000, in default five months in jail, after pleading guilty to an alternative charge of infanticide. GEORGE TOWN - A former private college student was sentenced by the High Court here today to three months' imprisonment and fined RM10,000, in default five months in jail, after pleading guilty to an alternative charge of infanticide. Judge Rofiah Mohamad ordered the 23-year-old woman to serve the jail sentence from the date of her arrest, taking into account the periods she had already been detained, from July 10 to Sept 14, 2020, and from Dec 30, 2020, to Jan 15, 2021. In her judgment, Rofiah said she considered the remorse and suffering endured by the woman during the five years she had been on bail, which she described as severe enough to cause trauma and mental distress to both the accused and her family, likening their experience to "living in hell.' She said the court also took into account the public interest and her guilty plea as well as her mental health, where a psychiatric evaluation by Hospital Bahagia Ulu Kinta, Perak, confirmed she suffered from severe depression (Major Depressive Disorder) and continues to require treatment and medication. "Based on these circumstances, the court has opted for a sentence that is more restorative than punitive. On the day of the incident, the accused had actually intended to take her own life after giving birth,' said the judge. At the time of the offence, the accused was 18 years old and initially charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code with murdering her baby by causing her death on a pathway leading to the parking area on the fourth floor of the Sri Ivory Apartment, Bandar Baru Ayer Itam, at about 8.25 am on July 10, 2020. The offence carries the death penalty upon conviction. She was charged while receiving treatment in the maternity ward of Penang Hospital for severe blood loss and complications following childbirth. However, the prosecution later offered an alternative charge after considering her mental state and witness testimonies. Under Section 309A of the Penal Code, a woman who causes the death of her newborn while suffering from mental disturbances due to not fully recovering from childbirth may be convicted of infanticide, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years' imprisonment and a fine upon conviction. The prosecution was led by Deputy Public Prosecutor Nurul Khairiah Dahalaan, while the accused was represented by lawyer RSN Rayer. The proceedings were also attended by Southeast District Social Welfare Department Community Service Command Officer Mohd Zahir Harun. - BERNAMA More Like This
The Sun
4 days ago
- The Sun
Former student jailed for infanticide in George Town case
GEORGE TOWN: A former private college student was sentenced to three months in jail and fined RM10,000 for infanticide after pleading guilty in the High Court. Judge Rofiah Mohamad ordered the 23-year-old woman to serve her sentence from the date of her arrest, accounting for previous detentions. The judge noted the woman's remorse and suffering during her five years on bail, describing it as traumatic for her and her family. A psychiatric report confirmed she suffered from severe depression and continues to require treatment. The court opted for a restorative rather than punitive sentence, considering her mental state and intent to take her own life after childbirth. The accused was initially charged with murder under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which carries the death penalty. She was later offered an alternative charge under Section 309A due to her mental condition and witness testimonies. Infanticide under Section 309A carries a maximum sentence of 20 years' imprisonment and a fine. The prosecution was led by Deputy Public Prosecutor Nurul Khairiah Dahalaan. The accused was represented by lawyer RSN Rayer. Southeast District Social Welfare Department officer Mohd Zahir Harun attended the proceedings. - Bernama
Malay Mail
5 days ago
- Malay Mail
Penang woman admits to throwing baby out window, gets RM10,000 fine
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 8 — The High Court in George Town today fined a 23-year-old woman RM10,000 for throwing her newborn out of a window five years, in lieu of prison. Justice Rofiah Mohamad said the court considered M Santhiea's three-month detention in 2020 and 2021, her emotional breakdown in court last month, and her diagnosis of major depressive disorder, Free Malaysia Today reported. The judge said Santhiea showed deep remorse, endured public shame, and remained at risk of suicide, according to psychiatric and welfare reports. She said a rehabilitative approach would be more suitable than a punitive one, noting that prison could worsen Santhiea's fragile mental health. A social welfare report had warned the court that Santhiea was at high risk of self-harm if incarcerated. Rofiah told Santhiea to use her 'new breath of life' to serve her family and the nation moving forward. Santhiea was initially charged with murder for throwing her baby from a flat in Bandar Baru Air Itam in 2020 when she was 18, but the charge was later reduced to infanticide. She pleaded guilty under Section 309A of the Penal Code, which applies to mothers suffering mental disturbance after childbirth, and would have faced five months in prison if the fine had not been paid by her family.
New Straits Times
5 days ago
- New Straits Times
Ex-college student jailed three months, fined RM10k for infanticide
GEORGE TOWN: The High Court here today sentenced a former college student to three months' imprisonment from the date of her arrest after she pleaded guilty to infanticide in May this year. Judge Rofiah Mohamad also fined M. Santhiea, now 23, RM10,000, in default of five months' imprisonment. The three-month sentence covers the periods from July 10 to Sept 14, 2020, and from Dec 30, 2020, to Jan 15, 2021.
