Police hunt suspect in infant abandonment case in North Jakarta's Pademangan

Jakarta — The Pademangan Police Precinct in North Jakarta is actively investigating the abandonment of a newborn girl discovered by residents on a rubbish heap at a market in RT 13/12, Pademangan Barat District, North Jakarta, on Monday morning.

“We are conducting an investigation to identify the person responsible for this heinous act,” said AKP Muhaiyin Ikhsan, chief of the Pademangan Police Precinct, in Jakarta on Monday.

He stated that the innocent infant was abandoned at a rubbish disposal site, and investigators were deepening their inquiry into the matter.

According to Hj Ratih, head of the Pademangan District Coordination Forum for Community Leaders (FKDM), the baby was wrapped in cloth and placed inside a black backpack. “Yes, it was found this morning at approximately 08.00 Western Indonesian Time by residents shopping at the market,” she said.

She noted that the infant has since been transported to the nearest hospital for medical care. The baby is estimated to be several days old.

According to Ratih, residents initially became suspicious upon discovering a black bag lying in the rubbish heap, which was the dumping ground for fruit vendors. Upon lifting it, they noticed the bag was surprisingly heavy.

“A woman named Lina Marlina then took the initiative to bring the child to hospital, thereby saving the infant’s life,” she said.