Police to question girl, parents over infant’s death

A GRADE 11 student in East New Britain and her parents are now under police investigation for suspected infanticide.
It follows the discovery of the body of an infant on Wednesday.
The student in Rabaul was alleged to have been assisted by her parents in getting rid of her infant.
Detectives from the Kerevat police station, health extension officers from the Gazelle district and staff from the provincial Community Development visited the family in the North Coast of Gazelle district to question them.
It is understood that a relative of the girl reported the matter to ward members.
The relative told police that the incident happened last Thursday night.
The girl’s parents denied to police that their daughter had given birth, saying she was having complications resulting in heavy bleeding.
Provincial child protection officer Philip Kuamin said five cases had been reported since 2012 involving young mothers getting rid of their babies.
Kuamin said it was most likely there were many similar cases in the province which had not been reported to authorities.
He said incest could be one of reasons young girls were assisted by their parents to get rid of their babies.