A 24-year-old woman pleaded guilty in the Sungai Petani Sessions Court over a baby transaction involving RM17,300.
SUNGAI PETANI: A 24-year-old woman pleaded guilty in the Sessions Court today to an alternative charge of taking part in a transaction intended to permanently transfer control of a baby in exchange for RM17,300 last month.
S. Kelsey entered the plea after the charge was read before Judge Nabisha Ibrahim.
The court fixed Oct 5 for remention and sentencing.
According to the charge, Kelsey took part in the transaction involving the baby, now 12 days old, at a private hospital between 7.30 am on Aug 18 and 1.30 am on Aug 21.
She was charged under Section 48(1) of the Child Act 2001, which carries a maximum fine of RM50,000, imprisonment of up to 20 years, or both.
Earlier, defence counsel RSN Rayer sought a new date for the facts of the case and sentencing, as well as a lower bail amount, saying his client did not have a permanent job and had a family to support.
Rayer also asked the court to consider her condition, saying she was exhausted after being detained to assist investigations three days after giving birth last month.
The court granted bail of RM10,000 with one surety and ordered Kelsey to surrender her passport to the court and not interfere with prosecution witnesses.
In a separate case at the Magistrate’s Court, Kelsey also pleaded guilty to possessing another person’s identity card last month.
She was accused of possessing the identity card of a 33-year-old woman, knowing it belonged to someone else, at the same hospital at 1.30 pm on Aug 21.
The offence under Regulation 25(1)(e) of the National Registration Regulations 1990 carries a maximum two-year jail term, a fine of up to RM3,000, or both.
Magistrate Muhammad Syaiful Akmal Mohamad Razi granted bail of RM1,500 with one surety and also fixed Oct 5 for mention and sentencing.
