PETALING JAYA: Legal action will be taken against social media users who allegedly defamed the family of a baby whose body was kept in a private hospital freezer for over two weeks.
Sinar Harian quoted lawyer Datuk Ahmad Zaharil Muhaiyar, representing the baby's father Safwan Roshdy, as saying that those concerned were given until midnight on Thursday (Dec 12) to withdraw their statements made via social media.
"We have identified several account owners who defamed my client, including alleging that he is not married.
"We have checked the status of my client's marriage certificate with the Perlis Islamic Religious Affairs Department (JAIPS) and found that the certificate is valid.
"We have given you (a deadline) to delete the defamatory posts or comments.
"Do not make any assumptions.
"We have identified you, whether (you made) live broadcasts via TikTok (or other platforms)," he told the daily several hours before the deadline.
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Ahmad Zahiril said a police report would also be filed soon, and action could also be taken against the hospital for a statement that it issued.
He said both civil and criminal action may be taken against the hospital for keeping the baby's body for 16 days because the father did not pay the hospital bill.
"We will wait for the findings from investigations by the police and the Health Ministry on this matter," he said.
Safwan, 22, told the daily he was saddened and disappointed by the accusations and insults levelled at his family.
Safwan added that he and his wife decided to take action against those involved and had left the legal aspects to his lawyer.
It was reported that a private hospital in Selangor allegedly kept a baby's body in a freezer for over two weeks as the father could not pay the hospital bill.
Muhammad Adham Mikail was born with severe abnormalities, including having only one eye, no nose, and no anal opening, and died 30 minutes after birth on Nov 24.
A social media post by Wan Cai, a special funeral van unit, claimed the baby's body had to be thawed with hot water.
The father is employed at a factory in Shah Alam and could not afford the RM3,600 hospital bill for his wife's labour, leading to her being held until the bill was settled.
