A 27-year-old mother, recently returned from Australia, faces charges of ill-treatment and neglect of a child after allegedly concealing her two-year-old daughter in a suitcase stored in a bus’s luggage compartment in New Zealand.
The incident occurred on a bus traveling through Kaiwaka, approximately 100km north of Auckland. At around 12:50 pm on Sunday, the bus driver, during a routine rest stop, noticed movement in a suitcase stored in the luggage compartment beneath the seats. Upon investigation, the driver discovered the toddler, clad only in a nappy, inside the suitcase.
“The child was very hot but appeared physically unharmed,” said Detective Inspector Simon Harrison, who is overseeing the case. Authorities estimate the girl was confined in the suitcase for approximately one hour.
Police were promptly notified, and the child was taken to a hospital for a comprehensive medical evaluation. The mother was arrested and remains in custody, with a court appearance scheduled for today.
Detective Harrison praised the bus driver’s quick actions, stating, “The driver’s vigilance likely prevented a far more tragic outcome.”
The investigation is ongoing as authorities seek to understand the circumstances that led to this disturbing incident.
