Bernama reported that Isyraf Hifhzan Abdullah, 20, nodded when the charge against him was read before magistrate Teo Shu Yee.

No plea was recorded as the case falls under the High Court’s jurisdiction.

Isyraf is accused of murdering the child on the third floor of a shop in Bandar Satelit Pulau Sebang, Alor Gajah, at around 9pm on July 6.

If convicted, he faces the death penalty or 30 to 40 years’ imprisonment and no less than 12 strokes of the rotan under Section 302 of the Penal Code.

Deputy public prosecutor Fiqri Hakim Zamri did not offer bail, and requested a new date for the handover of the autopsy report. Isyraf was unrepresented.

The court set Sept 23 for re-mention of the case and did not offer bail.

It was reported on July 7 that a couple was suspected of abusing and killing a baby the night before.

An inspection by a doctor at Tampin Hospital found bruises to the baby’s stomach and back, and injury to the anus. The doctor lodged a police report, leading to the couple’s arrest.

Further checks found that the male suspect had a criminal record related to gambling.