Nurasiyikin Mohamed Ismail, 23, admitted in a Community Court to disposing of the body of the infant at the riser outside her flat in Jurong West sometime a week after Jan 3.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Lin Yinbing told the court that a meter reader had opened the taped door of the riser on March 6 and found a green bag emitting a strong stench. He saw a tied red plastic bag within the bag.

The meter reader told his colleague about his suspicious find. They returned later and questioned Nurasiyikin who said she did not know why the door of the riser was taped. She said it had not been opened for a long time.

When one of the men proceeded to open the riser, she tried to take the package but was stopped from doing so.

Police were called. Nurasiyikin then admitted that the bag contained her dead baby and pleaded with them not to call the police.

The DPP said when she found out she was pregnant last year she did not tell any of her family members. She gave birth at around midnight on Jan 3 in her bedroom. When the child had been delivered, she noticed that it did not cry and was motionless.

She wrapped the child in a shawl, a piece of green cloth and newspapers, and a red plastic bag before placing it into a green bag. She put it in the storeroom. A week later, she felt uneasy and placed the bag in the electrical riser as she was afraid that her family members would find it.

A post-mortem showed the baby was born full-term. It was not possible to determine if the newborn had breathed as the internal organs were in an advanced stage of decomposition.

Mr Noor Mohamed Marican urged the court to call for a probation report as his client, who has a 19-month-old daughter from a previous relationship, was undergoing counselling and treatment. Sentencing was postponed to June 5. She faces up to two years jail and/or a fine.