IPOH: A housewife has been charged with the murder of her best friend’s five-year-old daughter here.
Wan Fatimah Zahra Wan Abdullah, 27, nodded in understanding after the charge was read out before Magistrate S. Punitha on Friday (June 21).
No plea was recorded as murder cases are under the purview of the High Court.
She is accused of killing Iman Adelia Yusullah in a house at Jalan Kledang Raya 23, Taman Malcop here between June 5 and 10.
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The charge is framed under Section 302 of the Penal Code which provides for the death penalty, or imprisonment for up to 40 years and 12 strokes of the cane, upon conviction.
DPP Vatchira Wong Rui Fern appeared for the prosecution while the accused was not represented.
Wong asked the court not to offer any bail.
Punitha fixed Aug 28 for mention while awaiting the chemist's report.
The victim’s family members from Pahang, including the child's mother, were present and wept during the proceedings.
Before leaving the court, the child's mother asked the accused, "Why did you do this to my daughter?"
It was reported on June 11 that a child was suspected to have been abused, resulting in her death.
Ipoh OCPD Asst Comm Abang Zainal Abidin Abang Ahmad said the accused and her 66-year-old husband had been looking after the girl for a few months.
He said that the victim had signs of being beaten all over her body with a blunt object and that there were also tears in her private parts and anus.
