Body of baby placed in luggage, tossed in the ocean

TAWAU - The body of a baby girl was found in a luggage floating near the ocean at Tanjung Batu Logpon, here, yesterday.

In the 4.30pm incident, the body of a baby who still had her umbilical cord was found by a couple who happened to be at the location.

Tawau District Police Chief Assistant Commissioner Jasmin Hussin said he received a report from members of the public who discovered the baby's body stuffed in a luggage by the sea.

Acting on the information, the Tawau Police immediately went to the scene and met the witness who spotted the pink luggage in the ocean near the jetty.

"The witness had opened the bag and found the baby, still with her umbilical cord intact who was believed to be dead.

"The Ministry of Health is at the scene and had taken the body to Tawau Hospital for further action," he said in a statement today.

He added that the luggage found with the baby's body had been filled with stones, intentionally to ensure that the luggage stayed at the bottom of the sea.

"The results of the initial examination from the doctor on duty confirmed that the body weighed about one kilogram with a length of 36 centimeters.

Jasmin said the case was investigated under Section 318 of the Penal Code for concealing and disposing of a body that can constitute a maximum prison sentence of two years or a fine or both.

Prior to that, Jasmin advised the public not to disseminate inauthentic information regarding the case and any information can be reported directly to the nearest police station.