A newborn baby boy was found alive inside a sanitary bin at a disabled toilet at Penang International Airport (LTAPP) in Bayan Lepas on Aug 31.
Southwest District police chief Assistant Commissioner Anuwal Ab Wahab said the baby was discovered by a cleaner who heard crying coming from inside the bin.
The worker immediately checked the source of the cries before finding the newborn inside the sanitary container. The baby was subsequently taken to Penang Hospital for medical treatment.
Anuwal said police investigations, including checks on closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage, led to the arrest of a 23-year-old local woman at Bukit Jambul Complex.
“The woman was released on police bail on the day of her arrest as she was sent to hospital for further treatment,” he said in a statement on Wednesday.
Investigators later arrested a 22-year-old Myanmar national who works as a security guard in connection with the case.
The man has been remanded for four days until Sept 4 to assist with the investigation. Police also found that he had failed to produce valid travel documents.
Meanwhile, the Penang police contingent’s forensic team conducted an examination at the location where the baby was discovered.
Several samples were collected from the scene and will be sent to the Chemistry Department for analysis as police work to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Anuwal said the case is being investigated under Section 317 of the Penal Code, while further investigations are ongoing to determine the involvement and connection of those detained to the incident.
Information circulating online claimed the baby was found with his umbilical cord still attached inside the sanitary bin. A video of the discovery also sparked shock and concern among social media users.
Police have urged the public not to speculate or circulate unverified information, warning that doing so could interfere with the ongoing investigation.
