Six babies' bodies found in plastic bags

Six babies' bodies found in plastic bags

JAKARTA (JP): The bodies of six babies wrapped in three
plastic bags were found yesterday afternoon by residents on Jl.
Warakas VI in North Jakarta.

The first four bodies were found at a garbage site under
Tanjung Priok toll road, while the other two were found in a
nearby ditch, said Maj. Jamal, head of Tanjung Priok police
subprecinct.

"We intend to comb the surrounding area soon to look for any
possible clues," he said.

Forensic expert Mun'im Idries, who examined the bodies, told
reporters at Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital that the first
four bodies had been mutilated.

But, he said, further examinations would be carried out to
find out whether they had been killed first, or abandoned to die.

The remaining two had been the victims of abortion.

"They're just fetuses but they already show their sex," he
said, adding that the two were girls.

Judging by the state of the two little victims, Mun'im said he
strongly believed that they had been dumped by an abortion clinic
or an organized prostitution ring far from the scene.

Three of the first four bodies were boys, the other was a
girl, Mun'im said.

A local resident, Ujang, said the first four bodies were found
by teenagers who were playing football near the garbage dump.

The youngsters then called the elder residents for help.

According to Cipto hospital data the bodies of more than 50
babies have been dumped in and around the city this year alone.

Contacted by The Jakarta Post yesterday, criminologist
Purnianti of University of Indonesia said that those who carried
out such inhumane deeds could surely be charged under Article 341
of the Criminal Code which carries a maximum punishment of seven
years in prison.

She said, however, that baby killing, or infanticide, and was
primarily caused by two reasons: disgrace and financial
difficulty.

"The mothers of the babies are actually also victims," she
said.

"They are indeed doubly victims. First, they are victims of
their deceitful lovers, who refuse to take responsibility for
their relationship. Secondly, they are also blamed by society for
having done such a disgraceful thing."

"I don't think that a 'normal' mother could throw away her
child like that," she said. (04)