Mother of abandoned milk can infant sentenced to one year imprisonment

The Criminal Court has sentenced the mother of a prematurely born baby found inside a milk can in ViliMale’ on May 19 to one year imprisonment.

Aminath Shaira, 30 of Manadhoo in Noonu Atoll, was charged with disobedience to an order under article 88(a) of the 1968 penal code as well as violations under the Child Protection Act.

Her accomplice in the crime, Mariyam Rizna, 18, of Guraidhoo in Kaafu Atoll, was sentenced to six months for assisting Shaira in delivering the baby. Rizna’s fingerprints were found on the Coast Milk can.

The third suspect however, Aishath Aniya, 24, of Huraa in Kaafu Atoll, was released after the court determined that there was not enough evidence to prove that she provided abortion pills to the defendant.

Police Sub-Inspector Ahmed Shiyam told Minivan News at the time that the dead child, believed by forensic examiners to have been born three months premature, was discovered in the discarded container near the powerhouse area of the residential island.

In the same month, a dead infant was been found in a plastic bag in the swimming track area of Male’. A medical examination later concluded that the baby’s had sustained cuts, bruises and other wounds.

In November 2010, another abandoned newborn was discovered alive in bushes near the Wataniya telecommunications tower in Hulhumale’.

Abortion is illegal in the Maldives except to save a mother’s life, or if a child suffers from a congenital defect such as thalassemia. Several studies on HIV in the Maldives have identified risk factors, including high levels of promiscuity and little use of contraception. Anecdotal evidence points overwhelmingly to a high rate of abortion.

In January 2010, Minivan News reported that many women unable to travel to Sri Lanka resort to illegal abortions performed by unskilled individuals in unhygienic settings.

Abortion-inducing pills and injections administered by amateur abortionists are one recourse while others turn to harmful vaginal preparations, containing chemicals such as bleach or kerosene. Although infrequent, some insert objects into their uterus or induce abdominal trauma, such is the stigma of having a child out of wedlock.

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10 thoughts on “Mother of abandoned milk can infant sentenced to one year imprisonment”

  4. Killing a baby only just ONE Year ? Is that so funny.

    Better to closed down the Courts instaed of wasting money to pay salaries to these funny judges ?

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  5. Kill your baby and put in a tin, you get 6 months. Possess a dildo and you get 1 year. Possess 2 grams of marijuana and you get 25 years. This is one hell of a justice system Maldives has.

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  6. See the influence of religion on Maldivian Law aka Sharia...

    possession of 2 sex toys (6 months)
    Killing a baby (12 months)

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  7. where is the father? the person who impregnatd the woman and abandoned her is just as guilty of these crimes; In the very least, he should be found and tried for Ziney (a piss poor consolation if you ask me). Why has there been no mention of him? or of any attempt to find who he is?

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  8. @Atheist on Thu, 20th Oct 2011 10:53 AM

    I believe, that's misleading. Who says it's Sharia? You? ... While if Sharia was followed, the sentence would have been death... then you would cry out, ...look at the impact of Sharia.. "killing a poor woman"... tsk, tsk, tsk... u guys will find some reason to bash Islam. What a horrible state of mind.

    Btw, nice try..but it's just proof that there's a neatly orchestrated pattern of such hate towards Islam.. so evident.

    Real problem lies with people ( Not the system alone)... Perhaps if people starts to take more seriously their own responsibilities,and advice each other for Truth, Patience, Constancy. And have Faith. (The General rule of all humans to follow and prosper, as given in the Glorious Quran, Chapter 103- The summary of full guidance of Quran in a nutshell), Things could be much different.

    May Allah Bless us all with Guidance.

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  9. The man who caused this misery to the accused should also be punished. The man had his fun, abandoned the girl and might already have selected his next prey.

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