A woman has been charged with child neglect after a two-year-old girl was found hidden inside a suitcase in a bus luggage compartment.
Police were alerted to the incident in Kaiwaka, New Zealand, shortly before 1 p.m. local time on Sunday.
The woman, 27, had requested access to the luggage compartment during a planned stop, but the bus driver became concerned when he noticed the suitcase moving.
Highlights
- A woman was charged with child neglect after hiding a two-year-old girl inside a suitcase in a bus luggage compartment in Kaiwaka, NZ.
- The bus driver noticed the suitcase moving and alerted authorities, preventing potentially severe harm to the toddler.
- The toddler was found very hot, reportedly only wearing a nappy, but was not physically harmed and is now medically well.
A child was found inside a suitcase in a bus luggage compartment
Image credits: Alberto Ortega/Europa Press via Getty Images
He contacted authorities, and a toddler was discovered hidden inside the suitcase.
The woman, who has not been named, was arrested and charged with the ill-treatment/neglect of a child.
The little girl was reported to be very hot but was not physically harmed.
Local media outlet RNZ reported that she was only wearing a nappy.
She was taken to the hospital for an extensive medical examination and is now described as medically well.
Police say the outcome could have been much worse if the driver had not taken immediate action after realizing something was wrong.
Image credits: North Shore, Rodney & West Auckland Police
“We would like to acknowledge and commend the bus driver, who noticed something wasn’t right and took immediate action, preventing what could have been a far worse outcome,” North Shore, Rodney & West Auckland Police said in a statement.
Officers have not ruled out the possibility of further charges being brought against the woman.
“We appreciate there is high public interest with what has happened,” acting Detective Inspector Harrison said.
“However given the circumstances concerning the child, and the matter being before the Court, we are unable to provide further comment.
“Our focus is on ensuring the child is well-supported and we are working with Oranga Tamariki in relation to this matter.”
Oranga Tamariki is also known as the Ministry for Children and is the government body in New Zealand responsible for the well-being of children.
Image credits: InterCity NZ
The woman appeared in court on Monday and entered no plea through her lawyer, RNZ reported.
While police have now confirmed the child is medically well, in an earlier charge document seen by RNZ, they said she would have likely suffered adverse health effects, including suffocation, dehydration, carbon monoxide poisoning, heat exhaustion, and psychological trauma.
The incident is understood to have taken place on an InterCity bus, operated by Entrada Travel Group.
Children under the age of two can travel on the service for free if they sit on a guardian's lap, and fares for children are sold at a discounted rate.
"We are aware of an incident involving a passenger on one of our services," Entrada Travel Group said by email, NBC News reported.
"Police were called to respond and are investigating the matter. No one was harmed during the incident, and the service resumed."