By Maurizio Pesce from Milan, Italia
A woman has been arrested in New Zealand after a two-year-old girl was discovered hidden inside her luggage while she was travelling on a long-distance bus.
The incident occurred on Sunday in Kaiwaka, a small town in the northern part of the country. Authorities were called to the scene after a passenger asked to access the bus’s luggage compartment, prompting concerns from the driver.
According to a statement from New Zealand Police, “The driver became concerned when he noticed the bag moving. When the driver opened the suitcase, they discovered the two-year-old girl inside.”
The 27-year-old woman has been taken into custody and is facing charges of child ill-treatment or neglect. Police reported that the toddler appeared to be extremely hot but showed no immediate signs of physical injury.
“She has been taken to hospital, where she is undergoing a medical assessment,” police confirmed.
The exact relationship between the woman and the child has not yet been publicly disclosed.
Authorities stated that the woman is scheduled to appear in North Shore District Court on Monday.
New Zealand Police praised the quick-thinking actions of the bus driver. “We would like to acknowledge and commend the bus driver, who noticed something wasn’t right and took immediate action, preventing what could have been a far worse outcome,” the statement read.
