Police have arrested a couple, identified by their initials NKJ and IKS, for allegedly throwing away a newborn baby in the Susut sub-district of Bangli regency last week.
In a statement issued today, authorities said that they received information from a health clinic in Gianyar about a patient named NKJ, who came in for postpartum treatment but couldn’t answer when asked about the baby’s whereabouts.
“From that information, we investigated further and found other supporting evidence. We then arrested NKJ and IKS and brought them to the Bangli Police Station,” Bangli Police Chief, Tri Waluyo, was quoted as saying.
The body of a baby boy was found dead on the side of the street in Susut on July 25, prompting an investigation by local police to identify and locate the baby’s parents. Bangli’s social agency reportedly cremated the baby earlier this week on Tuesday.
After they were questioned, NKJ admitted to having given birth to a baby boy in IKS’ house. They didn’t know what to do once the baby was born, but eventually decided to wrap him up with a green towel and put him in a sling bag, which was then brought by IKS to throw away.
Along the way, IKS said that the baby was still crying inside the bag, so he smothered the infant with his left hand to keep him quiet. IKS chose a random shack to leave the baby behind and returned back to his home to burn the bag and items of clothing that the couple had been wearing that day.
“This is what happens when you have extramarital sex. I implore the younger generation to get married if it is appropriate, in order to avoid things such as this from happening,” Tri Waluyo said.
Under Indonesia’s criminal code and the 2002 Child Protection Law, NKJ and IKS each face a maximum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment and a fine of IDR 3 billion (USD 212,ooo) , if found guilty.
