Suspect arrested for abandoning baby in shopping bag in Pati

Authorities in Pati, Central Java, Indonesia, have arrested a 35-year-old woman, identified by the initials AI, in connection with the abandonment of a newborn baby. The arrest occurred on Friday, June 5, 2026, following the discovery of the infant earlier in the week.

The case began on Monday, June 1, when residents W, 43, and TA, 35, found a suspicious navy blue shopping bag in an alley near their homes. Upon opening the bag, they discovered a newborn baby boy, still with his umbilical cord attached, alive and in need of immediate care. The quick-thinking residents promptly alerted their neighborhood head and called for a midwife to provide initial assistance before the baby was transported to the Juwana Community Health Center.

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The speed of the community in providing assistance to this baby was very helpful. We appreciate the residents' concern who immediately moved to save the baby's life and reported the incident to the police authorities.

Police Chief of Criminal Investigation for Pati, Commissioner Dika Hadian Widya Wiratama, commended the community's swift action in saving the baby's life. Following the report, police launched an investigation and successfully apprehended the suspect, a resident of Growong Lor Village in Juwana District, on Friday afternoon. The arrest was conducted peacefully.

The baby boy is reported to be in good health, weighing 3.8 kilograms and measuring 50 centimeters long. He remains under medical observation at the Puskesmas Juwana. The suspect, AI, faces charges under Article 76B in conjunction with Article 77B of Law Number 35 of 2014 concerning Child Protection, which carries a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment and/or a fine of up to Rp 100 million.

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When opened, they found a baby boy who was still alive with the umbilical cord still attached to the baby's body.