Johor bahru: A 39-year-old housewife was charged in the Magistrate's Court here today with the murder of a 16-month-old baby girl late last month. Nurul Farhana Laili Shah nodded after the charge was read out before Sessions Court Judge Hafizah Abdul Rajak, but no plea was recorded.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, she was charged with murdering Nur Anggun Dahlia Abdullah between 12.30 pm on July 30 and 9.30 am on July 31 at a house in Taman Sri Saujana here. The charge, under Section 302 of the Penal Code, carries the death penalty or imprisonment of between 30 and 40 years and a minimum of 12 strokes of the cane if the death penalty is not imposed, upon conviction.

The court set Dec 11 for mention pending the submission of the chemical, post-mortem and DNA reports. Deputy Public Prosecutor Nor Afiqah Musa prosecuted, while the accused was represented by lawyer Lydiana Mansor.