BABY TO BE GIVEN TO WELFARE DEPT
Grandparents may be given custody if they agree to it
ANEWBORN baby girl, found alive after being dumped at a kampung house here on Saturday, will be handed over to the Welfare Department.
District police chief Assistant Commissioner Abdul Wahib Musa said one option that could be considered by the Welfare Department was to give temporary custody to her grandparents, if they were agreeable to it.
The baby’s 19-year-old mother was arrested by police after she delivered and abandoned her baby at the verandah of her neighbour’s house in Kampung Parit Lubok Darat, Semerah, here.
“We will ensure the baby’s safety. The infant will be handed over to the Welfare Department.
“The baby will be under the department’s custody until the lawful guardian is identified.
“One option is to give the responsibility to the mother’s parents, provided they agree to it and if there is no court injunction.
“However, this depends on the investigations and action by the deputy public prosecutor,” said Wahib.
He said the mother, a food stall helper, confessed to police that she delivered the baby at a neighbour’s house when its occupants were away.
The house owner, an 81-yearold man and his wife, upon returning at 7am on Saturday, found the baby wrapped in cloth in their varandah. There were bloodstains and the baby’s umbilical cord and placenta were found nearby.
“The baby was from the woman’s relationship with her boyfriend.
“The baby weighing 3.1kg was found healthy and in stable condition.
“The teenager and her baby were sent to Sultanah Nora Ismail Hospital here where they are in good condition. The mother is being detained for investigations for concealing the birth with intention to abandon her baby,” said Wahib.
He said investigations were conducted under Section 317 of the Penal Code.
If convicted, the offender could be jailed up to seven years and fined, or both.