Kota Kinabalu: A 61-year-old woman was charged with abandoning a four-month-old baby while under her care.
Chong Chau Ying pleaded not guilty before Sessions Court Judge Elsie Primus Friday to the charge.
Chong is accused of causing the baby to be abandoned while under her care at Taman Sinar Baru, Jalan Damai, here, between noon and 1.30pm on Nov 11, 2022.
The offence under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001 carries a fine of up to RM50,000, or a jail term of up to 20 years, or both, on conviction.
She could also be placed under a bond of good behaviour and to perform community work, as provided for under Section 31(2) of the Child Act.
The court set April 24 for pre-trial case management and released Chong on a bail of RM10,000 with RM5,000 deposited in two local sureties.
Chong was also ordered to surrender her passport, if any, to the court until the disposal of her case and warned to not tamper with the prosecution witnesses.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Atiqa Nazihah Azmi appeared for the prosecution.
