A YOUNG unwed mother who disposed of her dead baby in an electrical riser compartment was placed on 24 months' supervised probation on Friday.

Nurasyikin Mohamed Ismail, 23, admitted to concealing her birth by secretly disposing of the dead baby at Jurong West Street 64 on Jan 3.

At an earlier hearing last month, the court heard that a meter reader discovered a green bag in the riser after removing the scotch tape on the door. The bag which contained another bag emitted a strong stench.

After alerting his colleague, the two men returned later and found Nurasyikin doing some cleaning outside the flat.

Asked why the riser was taped, she said she did not know and said the riser had not been opened for a long time. She finally admitted that the bag contained her dead baby and pleaded with them not to call the police.

Investigation showed that Nurasyikin did not tell her family members that she was pregnant. On Jan 3 at around midnight, she gave birth to her child in her bedroom on her own.

She noticed that the baby did not cry and was motionless. She wrapped the child with layers of shawl, green cloth, newspapers and a red plastic bag before placing it into a green bag.

She then hid the bag in the storeroom but moved it to the electrical riser compartment a week later as she was afraid that her family members would discover it..

Her lawyer Noor Mohamed Marican told Community Court judge Ng Peng Hong that she had found a job as a pharmacist's assistant, and was still undergoing treatment. An Institute of Mental Health doctor had earlier found her to be suffering from mild depressive disorder.

She will continue with her psychiatric and psychological treatment. Her stepfather and mother signed a $5,000 bond to ensure her good behaviour. The offence is punishable with up to two years in jail and/or a fine.