Police Arrest Female Boarding School Student Who Abandoned Baby in Mamuju Seminary Garden

The body of a baby with a severed arm was discovered in the rear garden area of an Islamic boarding school (pondok pesantren) in Mamuju Regency, West Sulawesi. The perpetrator turned out to be a female student at the same institution.

“The person who abandoned the baby is the biological mother, who is also a student at the boarding school,” said Mamuju Police Public Relations Section Head Inspector Herman Basir on Friday (20 February 2026).

Herman stated that the suspect’s identity was uncovered after investigators took statements from a number of female students and religious teachers at the boarding school. Police then examined the suspect, who was in a weakened condition due to haemorrhaging at the time.

“Upon examination, HS admitted that the baby was indeed her child,” Herman explained.

He added that HS is currently receiving treatment at Bhayangkara Hospital in Mamuju. Police have also questioned a man with the initials IT (20), who is the father of the unfortunate baby.

“The man with the initials IT has been questioned and permitted to return home,” he said.