Woman charged with abandoning newborn son in rubbish bin outside Upper Paya Lebar house

SINGAPORE — A 29-year-old Indonesian woman was charged on Thursday (July 30) with leaving her newborn son in a rubbish bin outside a landed home at Tai Keng Gardens.

She faces one charge of exposure and abandonment of a child under the age of 12.

She cannot be named due to a court order to protect the boy’s identity.

Court documents stated that she allegedly left the baby at the house near Upper Paya Lebar Road at about 5pm on Monday (July 27).

The police said on Wednesday that they were alerted to the case at 7.45pm that day.

The baby, who had no visible injuries and was in a stable condition, was later taken to KK Women's and Children's Hospital.

Police officers from the Ang Mo Kio Police Division identified the woman through investigations and closed-circuit television footage provided by residents.

The police are looking into the identity of the infant’s father. 

Court documents did not provide more details on the woman or why she allegedly abandoned her child.

She was offered bail of S$20,000 and will return to court on Aug 13.

If convicted, she may be jailed up to seven years or fined, or both.