Confinement lady who fed newborn milk laced with flu meds fined RM8,000

KUALA LUMPUR: A confinement lady has been fined RM8,000 in default nine months' jail by the Sessions Court here on Monday (Oct 7) for abusing an 18-day-old boy by feeding him milk mixed with flu medicine.

Judge Dr Azrol Abdullah passed down the sentence on Hew Foong Chun, 66, who pleaded guilty to the charge.

She was also ordered to be placed on a good behaviour bond for two years with a surety of RM1,000 and to perform community service for 90 hours within a period six months.

Hew was charged with committing the act at a residence in Bukit Jalil, Cheras here at 2.21am on Sept 15.

The charge, framed under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, provides a maximum fine of RM50,000 or imprisonment for up to 20 years or both upon conviction.

According to the facts of the case, the woman was paid RM4,500 to care for the baby for 20 days.

The boy's father became suspicious when his son slept throughout the day.

After checking CCTV footage, he saw that Hew had put flu medicine in his son's feeding bottle although the baby was healthy.

In mitigation, Hew, who was unrepresented, said she is a single mother and suffers from asthma, diabetes, high blood pressure as well as hearing and vision problems.

"I also have no home and no job," she said.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohamad Ikhwan Mohd Nasir appeared for the prosecution. – Bernama