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Topics: Crime, World News
Britt Jones
A woman had been arrested after a 2-year-old was found in a suitcase in a bus luggage compartment.
A 27-year-old woman was arrested and charged with neglect after a toddler was found in a suitcase travelling from Northland to Auckland.
Police claim the woman put the child in a closed suitcase and stored it in a luggage compartment, which was likely to harm the toddler.
“Namely, suffocation, carbon monoxide poisoning, heat exhaustion, psychological trauma,” reports the New Zealand Herald.
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Police said officers were called approximately 12.50pm yesterday (August 3) after a passenger asked to access the luggage department when the bus stopped at Kaiwaka.
“The driver became concerned when he noticed the bag moving,” said Detective Inspector Simon Harrison.
“When the driver opened the suitcase, they discovered the 2-year-old little girl.”
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The little girl was said to be very hot but didn’t appear physically harmed.
The child was taken to the hospital for a medical assessment and was due to stay until the evening.
“We would like to acknowledge and commend the bus driver, who noticed something wasn’t right and took immediate action, preventing what could have been a far worse outcome,” Harrison said.
Radio New Zealand stated that the child had been in the suitcase for nearly an hour, wearing only a diaper and no clothing.
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As for the woman, it has not been revealed what her relationship to the child is, and she cannot be named as she has been granted interim name suppression in the North Shore District Court this week by Judge Anna Fitzgibbon, who set her next court appearance for tomorrow (August 5).
She is also due to meet with forensics as per the case of the toddler.
Regional Commissioner Te Tai Tokerau Anya Tahere said Oranga Tamariki (New Zealand's ministry for children) had been notified, stating: “Our thoughts are with the young child involved.
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“We are working with their whānau to ensure the child is safe and cared for.”
The bus company, InterCity, confirmed to news outlets that the incident occurred on one of its busses.
“Police were called to respond, and they are now investigating the matter. No one was harmed during the incident and the service resumed,” a spokesperson said.
The motive of why the child was placed in the suitcase is not known, but the company does not charge fares for children younger than 3 years, and they are able to travel for free as long as they sit on an adult’s lap.
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As per a further police update, Harrison confirmed the toddler was ‘medically well’ after the ordeal, stating in the press release: "We are working with whānau (family) and our partner agencies to ensure the child is cared for.”
“We appreciate that there is high public interest with what has happened," Harrison said. “However, given the circumstances concerning the child, and the matter being before the Court, we are unable to provide further comment.
“Our focus is on ensuring the child is well-supported and we are working with Oranga Tamariki in relation to this matter."