Mother in Terengganu fails in attempt to hide stillborn

KUALA TERENGGANU: Distraught over her broken engagement, a young woman aborted the child she was carrying and tried to bury it in secret.

Kuala Terengganu Deputy OCPD Supt Suffian Sulaiman said the 22-year-old woman had taken pills to induce the abortion on Oct 19.

"At about 11pm, she started having stomach cramps and gave birth to a still-born baby boy, estimated to be about 20 weeks old at her rented home in Gong Badak," he said, adding that her housemates had no knowledge of the birth.

It is believed the child is the result of her union with her former fiancé, who broke off the engagement about six months ago.

Supt Suffian said the woman, who worked at a fast food restaurant in the area, wanted to give her child a proper burial and sought help from a gravedigger.

However, the gravedigger wouldn't do so until she lodged a police report and got a proper permit.

She then lodged a police report and revealed the true story of wanting to bury her child.

The woman is currently being warded at Hospital Sultanah Nur Zahirah.

The case is being investigated under Section 315 of the Penal Code for committing an act to prevent a child from being born alive.