A 22-YEAR-OLD babysitter was charged in the Magistrate’s Court today with the murder of a four-month-old infant at a daycare centre located within the Seberang Jaya Hospital precinct earlier this month.
Nur Farhana Fazmar Abdullah, dressed in a blue-and-white striped top and dark trousers, merely nodded in acknowledgement when the charge was read before Magistrate Nurul Rasyidah Mohd Akit.
No plea was recorded as the case falls under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which is within the jurisdiction of the High Court.
According to the charge sheet, Nur Farhana is accused of causing the death of the baby, identified as Hayl Haarith Mohd Syafaeez, under the care of Ummu Habibah Wahab, 29, at Taska Pintar Hospital Seberang Jaya.
The alleged incident occurred between 1 a.m. and 4 a.m. on 9 March. If convicted, Nur Farhana could face the death penalty or imprisonment ranging from 30 to 40 years. Should the death penalty not be imposed, she could also be subjected to a minimum of 12 strokes of the cane.
The prosecution was led by Deputy Public Prosecutor Siti Nur Amalina Harun, while the accused was represented by lawyer Muhaimin Hashim. No bail was offered, and the court fixed 23 June for case mention to await the results of the post-mortem and chemical reports.
Meanwhile, a colleague of the accused who was previously remanded has been released on RM10,000 bail and is expected to testify for the prosecution.
Earlier, both women arrived at the Bukit Mertajam Magistrate’s Court at approximately 8.45 a.m., handcuffed. Reports indicate that the infant was found unresponsive at the 24-hour daycare centre on 9 March.
Emergency services rushed the baby to the Seberang Jaya Hospital Emergency Department at around 4 a.m., after his mother, a night-shift nurse, received a call reporting that her child’s face had turned blue. Despite one hour of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, the infant could not be saved.
Chief of Police for the state, Datuk Azizee Ismail, confirmed yesterday that the cause of death was believed to be asphyxiation due to oxygen deprivation, as determined during medical examination. - March 19, 2026
