PUTRAJAYA: Two government officers - one with the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim), the other with the Education Ministry - were charged today in the Magistrate's Court with murdering a 23-month-old toddler early this month.
Nor Aisyah Mohd Yunus, 37, who is the toddler's mother, and her housemate Noor Aisyah Ibrahim, 33, nodded when the charge was read to them before magistrate Shah Wira Abdul Halim.
No plea was recorded.
According to the charge sheet, both women were alleged to have caused the death of Muhammad Alfatheh Hamdi at D-T13-U 12 Block D, Jalan P5A/5 Fasa 5RA Presint 5 between middle of September and Nov 4.
Both women did not show any expression when the charge was read to them in a packed courtroom.
Nor Aisyah and Noor Aisyah were represented by lawyers Najib Zakariah and Hamdan Hamzah respectively.
The prosecution was conducted by deputy public prosecutor Zulaaikha Mohd Apandi.
Najib applied for a court order for Nor Aisyah to be sent to the Ulu Kinta Hospital for psychiatric evaluation.
"My application is based on the fact that my client has a history of post-partum depression.
"I have also been asked by my colleague (Hamdan) on behalf of the second accused for the same application because one of her family members is suffering from a major depression," he added.
Magistrate Shah Wira then issued an order for the two women to be sent to the Ulu Kinta Hospital and fixed Dec 18 for mention.
It was reported last Monday that a medical examination had revealed that the toddler sustained 89 bruises, swelling and injuries all over his body.
Muhammad Alfatheh showed no sign of life when he was taken to the Serdang Hospital on Nov 4.
He was to have celebrated his second birthday on Nov 7.