A newborn baby boy was found crying inside a sanitary bin at an airport in Malaysia, leading police to arrest two people as they investigate how the child ended up there.
The disturbing discovery was made Monday, Aug. 31, at Penang International Airport.
According to local reports, a cleaner found the baby crying inside a bathroom sanitary bin and alerted authorities.
Police believe the child had been born only a short time before he was discovered because his umbilical cord and placenta were still attached.
The baby was rushed to Penang Hospital for treatment, according to Penang’s Southwest district police chief, Assistant Commissioner Anuwal Ab Wahab.
Investigators reviewed surveillance footage from the airport and later arrested a 22-year-old Malaysian woman and a 22-year-old man from Myanmar.
Authorities have not publicly identified either person, and their relationship to each other or to the baby has not yet been confirmed.
The woman was arrested at the Kompleks Bukit Jambul shopping center, according to local reports.
The man, who reportedly works as a security guard, was detained as part of the investigation.
“Investigations led to the arrest of a 22-year-old Myanmar national who works as a security guard,” Wahab said.
Police also said the man was unable to provide valid travel documents.
A forensic team examined the area where the baby was found and collected several samples, which were sent to the police chemistry department for further analysis.
Authorities are investigating the case under Section 317 of Malaysia’s Penal Code, which deals with the abandonment of a child under the age of 12 by a parent or another person responsible for the child.
“Further investigations are ongoing to determine the involvement of and connection between the individuals detained and the incident,” Wahab said.
No additional details about the baby’s condition have been released.
