PETALING JAYA: A mother who previously admitted to abusing her 16-month-old baby boy by giving him formula milk mixed with the dangerous drug methamphetamine, changed her plea to not guilty at the Sessions Court here today.
The 34-year-old housewife changed her plea during the proceedings in front of Judge Noor Ruzilawati Mohd Nor.
Her 40-year-old husband maintained his plea of not guilty as the charges were read out again today.
The couple were jointly accused of subjecting their baby to abuse by giving him milk mixed with water containing the dangerous drug methamphetamine (syabu), resulting in the infant suffering from "alleged sympathomimetic drug ingestion."
The offence is alleged to have taken place in an apartment unit in Taman Medan here at 6pm on Feb 19.
The couple was charged under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001 which was read together with Section 34 of the same act.
The offence is punishable with a maximum fine of RM50,000 or imprisonment for up to 20 years, or both upon conviction.
Following the plea of not guilty, Deputy Public Prosecutor Ahmad Zuhaini Mahamad Amin then requested for the court to set a new date for mention of the case and to obtain a full medical report.
During the proceedings, counsels Datuk Ahmad Zaharil Muhaiyar, who represented the woman, and Adi Zulkarnain Zulkafli, who represented the man, did not object to the setting of a new date.
The court then set May 10 for mention, along with the status of the medical report on the same date.
Previously, the court had granted each accused bail at RM5,000 with one surety, with additional conditions to report to the police station once every month and not to interfere with witnesses until the case is concluded.
Earlier, the media reported an incident where a baby boy was rushed to the hospital after his mother had allegedly mixed his baby formula with a liquid containing methamphetamine in an incident in Taman Medan here.
Initial police investigations revealed the incident came to light when the baby was sent to the care of his grandmother, who resides in Seri Kembangan.