Woman Arrested After Toddler Found in Suitcase on New Zealand Bus

Woman Arrested After Toddler Found in Suitcase on New Zealand Bus
———————————
A 27-year-old woman has been arrested and charged with ill-treatment and neglect of a child after a two-year-old girl was discovered in a suitcase on a bus, The Guardian reported. The alarming incident occurred when a bus driver, during a scheduled stop in Kaiwaka, approximately 60 miles north of Auckland, noticed movement in a piece of luggage.

Upon opening the suitcase, the driver found the toddler inside. Police were immediately called to the scene. Detective Inspector Simon Harrison stated that the child was “very hot” but otherwise appeared physically unharmed. The girl was subsequently taken to the hospital for a comprehensive medical assessment.

Authorities commend the bus driver for their vigilance, noting that their actions prevented a potentially much worse outcome. Court documents indicate the woman had been traveling from Whangārei to Auckland and allegedly placed the child in a closed suitcase within the bus’s luggage compartment. New Zealand’s Ministry for Children, Oranga Tamariki, has been notified of the incident.