Authorities in New Zealand have arrested a woman after a bus driver discovered a toddler stuffed inside her suitcase.
According to a news release by the New Zealand Police, the incident occurred on Sunday at around 12:50 PM. The post cites Detective Inspector Simon Harrison, Acting Field Crime Manager, who explained that a bus passenger requested access to their luggage during a planned stop in Kaiwaka.
However, the bus driver quickly noticed something was wrong when the suitcase started moving. The driver opened the bag and uncovered a 2-year-old girl inside. Police officers quickly arrived at the scene. “The little girl was reported to be very hot, but otherwise appeared physically unharmed,” the news release explains.
Emergency services transported the toddler to a local hospital, where she is “undergoing an extensive medical assessment.” Officers arrested a 27-year-old woman at the scene. The news release does not reveal her relationship with the infant, but authorities are charging her with “ill-treatment/neglect of a child.” She is due in court in August, and authorities are not ruling out further charges.
Per RNZ, the toddler was wearing only a diaper when the driver discovered them. The outlet reveals that the infant had likely spent nearly an hour inside the suitcase.
New Zealand Police Commended The Driver For His Quick Response
The police news release directly addresses the bus driver and how he handled the situation. “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,” the post reads.
Authorities addressed the incident again yesterday with an update on the toddler’s health. Inspector Harrison said, “The child is medically well and we are working with whānau and our partner agencies to ensure the child is cared for.”
Harrison said he appreciates the “high public interest” in the incident. “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. We are working with Oranga Tamariki in relation to this matter,” he added.