A newborn baby girl was discovered abandoned in a black backpack by the side of a road in Samut Prakan, sparking public outrage and an urgent police investigation that led to the arrest of the infant’s mother.
The shocking discovery was made on the morning of July 18, when a passerby noticed the unattended bag along Suhrawardy Bang Kasee Road. Curious and concerned, they opened it and were horrified to find a crying newborn inside. The baby had been hidden in the bag for hours, left dangerously close to traffic and exposed to the elements.
Emergency responders were called to the scene, and the infant was rushed to a nearby hospital. Medical staff reported that the baby was dehydrated but stable and expected to recover fully.
The case was quickly taken up by Bang Phli Police Station. Investigators, led by Police Colonel Phairoj Phetraploy, Lieutenant Colonel Phawat Rattanaporn, and Captain Santirat Ngernmun, launched a review of CCTV footage from the area. The footage revealed a woman later identified as Ploy, 32, from Sisaket province, leaving her rented room on the night of July 16 with a black backpack. She was seen placing it into the basket of her motorcycle and driving approximately two kilometers before abandoning it on a canal bridge.
Police located Ploy’s motorcycle hidden behind a building and detained her for questioning. Under interrogation, Ploy admitted to the abandonment. She confessed to giving birth alone in her rented room without medical help and said she panicked afterward, unsure of what to do.
“I hoped someone would find her and take care of her,” Ploy told police, claiming she returned to the scene the following day to check on the child from a distance but did not intervene.
Ploy explained that she had concealed the pregnancy from her family, fearing their reaction. She said the baby’s father had left her early in the pregnancy and that she had initially taken emergency contraception, believing she would not carry to term.
She now faces charges under Section 306 of the Thai Criminal Code for child abandonment. The offense carries a penalty of up to three years in prison, a fine of 60,000 baht, or both. Authorities are also considering whether to press more serious charges, such as attempted murder, due to the risk posed to the baby’s life.
The case took another turn when Ploy’s aunt recognized her from news reports and confronted her at home. Initially, Ploy denied the allegations, blaming weight gain for her changed appearance. However, after intense questioning, she broke down and confessed to her family.
The family has since expressed a desire to take custody of the baby. Social services are now involved in evaluating the situation, and the infant remains under hospital supervision while welfare officials assess the next steps.
Police commended the quick-thinking citizen who found the baby, noting that the child may not have survived much longer in the bag without help.
“This child is lucky to be alive,” one officer said. “She could have easily died of exposure or been hit by traffic. It’s a miracle someone found her in time.”
The case has ignited debate in Thailand about reproductive support services, postpartum mental health care, and legal protections for abandoned infants.
As the investigation continues, police urge anyone with additional information to come forward. Ploy remains in custody pending further legal action.
