Teenage girl arrested for dumping foetus

A 16-year-old female student was arrested by police at her home in Seri Alam, near here, yesterday evening for allegedly dumping a baby.

Johor Baharu south district police chief ACP Sulaiman Salleh said the student was arrested after the discovery of a female foetus on the same day.

The well defined female foetus estimated to be 18 weeks, was found in a box under a clump of bamboo plants close to the bus stop near a Hindu cemetery, in Jalan Kebun Teh, at 11 am yesterday.

"Police managed to trace the suspect, believed to be the mother of the unborn child, within four hours and detained her to help in investigations," he said in a statement here today.

The case is being investigated under Section 318 of the Penal Code for hiding birth and trying to dispose a baby discreetly.

Sulaiman urged any witnesses to come forward to assist in investigation of the case by contacting the police hotline at 07-2218999.

Meanwhile, he advised parents and family members to be on the alert and constantly monitor their children's friends, behaviour and activities.