12 months' jail for concealing birth, secretly burying baby's body

PETALING JAYA: A youth and his girlfriend were each sentenced to 12 months' jail by the magistrate's court, here, today for hiding the birth of their daughter and burying the baby's body when it died after a premature birth.
Magistrate Zaki Asyraf Zubir sentenced Faizal Said, 20, and Nur Fitri Iryani Sani, 19, after they pleaded guilty to the charge and ordered the two accused to serve their jail terms beginning today.
They were charged with deliberately concealing the birth by secretly burying the baby's body when the infant died after birth at an apartment in Kelana Jaya, here, at 10 pm on Aug 23 last year.
The two, who are still studying at a private college, were charged under Section 318 of the Penal Code which provides for a jail term of up to two years or a fine, or both.
After the sentencing, Nur Fitri Iryani was seen crying. Her family was also present in court.
Earlier, the two accused, who were not represented, pleaded for a minimum jail sentence on grounds that they were from poor families and still studying and wanted to continue their studies.
They said the baby was born prematurely and they did not know what they did was wrong in the eyes of the law.
However, deputy public prosecutor Fazeedah Faik asked for a custodial sentence on the duo as their action had caused the baby's death.
"The picture shows the baby in perfect condition and the two accused should have sought medical attention or notified the authorities," he said.
According to the facts of the case, Nur Fitri Iryani had complained to Faizal that she was having abdominal pain, then she went to the toilet and gave birth normally.
But the baby fell on the floor with her fingers still moving then. However, after that, Nur Fitri Iryani found the baby to be lifeless and informed Faizal who then took the baby's body out of the apartment.
During her pregnancy, Nur Fitri Iryani had not gone for any medical examination even though she knew she was pregnant. — Bernama