Girl, 16, charged over baby’s death
CHALONG: The 16-year-old mother of a newborn baby found dead in the women’s toilet at Wat Chalong surrendered to the police yesterday evening.
The corpse, a 3-kilogram boy with the umbilical cord still attached, was discovered on February 1 in a water tank in the toilet, during Wat Chalong’s annual fair.
Pol Maj Chana Sutthimas, an Inspector with the Chalong Police, told the Gazette that the young mother surrendered to the police yesterday evening in the presence of her parents, both construction workers.
He said that the girl tearfully told the police that she ran away from home after learning that her teenaged boyfriend had got her pregnant.
“She did not tell her parents about her pregnancy, nor did she go to a doctor at any time.
“She went to the Wat Chalong fair with friends and, after experiencing pains, went to the restroom, where she gave birth,” Pol Maj Chana said.
“She said that as she cleaned the child in the tank of water she became dizzy and accidentally dropped him in the tank. Not knowing whether he was dead or alive, she panicked and ran out,” said Pol Maj Chana.
The girl has been charged with negligence causing death and is being held at the Phuket Juvenile Observation and Protection Center to await trial.
