M Santhiea, 18, who had been placed under detention, was allowed bail today on condition that she reports to the police station every Saturday until her trial begins. The trial date has yet to be set.

The other conditions include a ban on applying for a new passport, and that she must remain indoors from 7pm to 7am and that she cannot leave Penang without the permission of the court.

The order was made by judicial commissioner Amirudin Abd Rahman and delivered by senior assistant registrar Savinder Jugindar Singh.

Santhiea will now be released from prison, where she had been detained for months pending the decision on her bail application.

On Dec 17, magistrate Jamaliah Abd Manap revoked her earlier bail granted by the Court of Appeal.

Santhiea’s lawyers then appealed for bail, arguing that she is a woman and had suffered from complications related to childbirth.

Santhiea is accused of causing the death of her newborn at Sri Ivory Apartment in Bandar Baru Air Itam here at 8.25am on July 10 last year. The offence, under Section 302 of the Penal Code, carries the death penalty upon conviction.

Following her arrest, she was held in custody at the Penang Hospital for treatment related to injuries sustained during childbirth and was subsequently sent to a correctional facility in Perlis.

RSN Rayer, Meharaj Selvarajoo and Shathishbabu Subramaniam appeared for Santhiea.