KUCHING: Some 83 cases of abandoned babies were recorded in the state since 2001 up to this year, involving 53 deaths and 30 found alive.Revealing this to reporters yesterday during a press conference on integrated support system for unwed mothers, Assistant Minister of Women Development Datin Fatimah Abdullah said most cases happened in major cities such as Kuching, Miri, Bintulu and Sibu.
The year 2005 recorded the least of such criminal acts, while the highest recorded number happened in 2003, with 12 deaths.
From 83 cases reported, 27 arrests have been made with the perpectrators aged from 13 to 34 years old.
Meanwhile, the State Welfare Department handled a total of 27 cases, with most of them found to happen in 2003.
The state was shocked this month when a dead newborn was found by two boys at Stutong Community Market in Tabuan Jaya, with quick action by the police leading to the arrest of a 22-year-old suspect from Simunjan.
The suspect had since been charged in court.
In February, a fetus kept in an eco-grocery bag was found by three children, floating on the Miri river.