RUNDU – A 26-year-old woman who allegedly dumped her newborn immediately after giving birth at the Ncamagoro (Mile 30) village in Kavango West will not be arrested, pending a decision whether to prosecute her or not.

The Namibian Police said this is because the doctor’s examination of the woman indicates that she (suspect) had a miscarriage. But if the Prosecutor General’s decision is that she should be prosecuted, the suspect will be charged with concealment of birth and defeating the course of justice. 

After dumping the newborn on Friday, the 26-year-old suspect allegedly removed the foetus on Monday and buried it in a shallow grave, some metres away from the initial site.

“She further removed the deceased baby from the place where she dumped it first, and went to bury it a short distance away after she heard that the police were informed and were expected to attend to the crime scene,’’ said Kavango West police regional commander, commissioner Julia Sakuwa-Neo.

The suspect, who is currently being hospitalised for medical observation, was identified but cannot be named before appearing in court.

“The deceased newborn was found buried while placed in a red plastic container without lower limbs on Tuesday. The remains were transported to the Rundu state mortuary, and an autopsy is yet to be conducted,” the police regional commander said.