Dead baby found in staff locker
By Leong Su-Lin
Aug 15, 2006
The Straits Times
STAFF at NTUC Fairprice at Bishan Junction 8 had been noticing a foul smell coming from the staff locker area for days.
Yesterday morning, when they could not take it any longer, they traced the stench to a single locker, and used a spare key to open it up.
They found a dead baby.
Born premature, it still had its umbilical cord attached.
It had been placed inside a bag, before being locked away.
A witness, who did not want to be named, said the baby was in a semi-decomposed condition, suggesting it had been dead for at least two to three days.
With initial police investigations completed by about 3.30pm yesterday, the tiny corpse was put in a blue cardboard box which used to contain fruit, and taken to Singapore General Hospital mortuary.
A spokesman for NTUC Fairprice Co-operative Limited said the locker is located in an area accessible only to staff with passes.
Only permanent employees are assigned personal lockers.
Police have identified the female owner of the locker, who is assisting with investigations.
Had the baby been abandoned while it was alive, its mother could be charged with infanticide.
If guilty, she could be jailed for life, or given up to 10 years' jail and a fine.
Shoppers at NTUC yesterday afternoon were shocked and saddened to hear about the dead baby.
Some sympathised with the mother, while others chastised her for dumping her child.
Students Esther Lee, 16 and Shen Yan Ling, 16, called the mother 'heartless'.
But housewife Jane Choo, 34, who was shopping with her four-year-old daughter, said it was unfair to judge the mother without knowing more about her mental state.
'I hope she's okay - she must be under tremendous stress,' she said.
My parents just threw me inside the playpen to entertain myself. Same for my sis
