Inform us on baby dumping: Police
Charles Ramendran
Charles Ramendran
KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 16, 2010): Police want the public to show more concern on the problem of baby dumping and tip the police off if they have information on those they suspect of abandoning their newborns.
Federal CID director commissioner Datuk Seri Mohd Bakri Zinin said today the number of baby dumping cases has risen over the years, with 472 cases reported since 2005, of which 258 were fatal.
He said police discovered that in many such instances, neighbours of the perpetrators were aware of such cases but chose to remain silent.
"From our findings, usually, it is done by their mothers or fathers at a location not far from where they live. Hence, neighbours especially are aware in many cases but they just turn a blind eye. Had they informed us, we could have avoided the death of the babies dying and (they) also help us identify the parents," he said.
In 2009, police received reports of 79 cases of baby dumping while this year, as of today, 65 cases have been reported, he said.
Police can classify abandoned baby cases under Section 302 of the Penal Code (murder), and under Section 307 (attempted murder).
Those responsible for the death of abandoned babies would face a murder investigation while abandoned babies found alive would be classified and investigated as attempted murder, the CID chief said.
However, he added that the decision of whether such cases are classified as murder or not would be decided by the attorney-general.
On another matter, Mohd Bakri said police will investigate allegations that a deputy minister was involved in vice activities although he viewed such claims as baseless, reported Bernama.
Mohd Bakri said police have regarded it as baseless because the police report was not lodged by the victim but by a third party who had allegedly received an email from the victim.
A politician had on Aug 14 lodged a police report in Ipoh based on a letter and email received from a girl who claimed to be a victim of the deputy minister's vice, drug and gangsterism activities.
Mohd Bakri said police would investigate the case in detail since it involved incidents that were alleged to have taken place in 2000 and 2001.
On claims by a non-governmental organisation that Penan girls and women in Sarawak had been allegedly raped but that cases went not investigated by police, Mohd Bakri said it has been an uphill and frustrating task for the cops as there had been no cooperation from those who made such claims.
"We have four teams to look into these cases but how can we do so when there is no victim or complainant. We have recorded the statements from two people who are very important in these claims but nothing has come out of it.
"So, we urge those who have the information or the victims themselves to come forward and help us. Just tell us who and where, we are prepared to go anywhere to solve these cases," he said.
Updated: 09:02PM Mon, 16 Aug 2010
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