Authorities in New Zealand have apprehended a woman after a two-year-old child was discovered inside her luggage on a public bus.
According to police reports, officers were dispatched to a bus stop in Kaiwaka, a small town situated in the northern region of the country, on Sunday following a request from a passenger seeking access to the bus’s luggage compartment.
“The driver’s attention was drawn to the bag due to observed movement. Upon opening the suitcase, the driver found a two-year-old girl inside,” stated the New Zealand Police in an official release.
The 27-year-old woman has been taken into custody and faces charges of ill-treatment/neglect of a child.
“The child was reportedly experiencing elevated body temperature but, otherwise, appeared to be physically unharmed,” police officials confirmed.
The child has been transported to a medical facility for a comprehensive assessment, authorities added.
Details regarding the relationship between the woman and the child have not been disclosed to the public.
The woman is scheduled to appear in the North Shore District Court on Monday.
“We extend our gratitude and commendation to the bus driver, whose vigilance and prompt action in response to suspicious activity potentially averted a significantly more dire outcome,” police stated.