A man and his wife pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here today to kidnapping a five-day-old baby girl from a ward at the Tanah Merah Hospital near here last Nov 15.

Ahmad Abdul Muizz Halim, 26, and Nur Rashedah Che Faizo, 23, made the plea after the charge was read out to them before Judge Dazuki Ali.

They were charged with kidnapping the unnamed baby girl of Siti NorBaiti Bahanaharing from the legal custody of the Tanah Merah Hospital director.

The couple was alleged to have committed the offence at Ward 2 of the Children's Ward of the hospital at 6.47pm on Nov 15.

The charge, under Section 363 of the Penal Code, carries a jail term of up to seven years and a fine, upon conviction.

Deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Idham Abdul Ghani, who prosecuted, offered bail of RM20,000 each on the grounds that the offence committed by them was serious.

Following which,

Dazuki set bail at RM10,000 on each of the accused with one surety and fixed Dec 22 for mention.

Both the accused were not represented. -- BERNAMA