Filipino woman who just gave birth arrested after leaving newborn in black bag at Bangkok shopping mall

2026-03-22 - 12:40

BANGKOK — A 25-year-old Filipino woman has been arrested after the body of a newborn baby was found inside a black plastic bag in a women’s restroom at a major shopping mall on Sukhumvit Road, Bangkok. The incident came to light at 16:24 on 20 March when cleaning staff discovered the bag while performing routine trash collection in a storage room next to the women’s restroom. According to witnesses, the bag felt unusually heavy. Security personnel were immediately notified, and police, forensic teams, and medical examiners were called to investigate. Initial examination found the baby, a male, showed no visible injuries or bruises. CCTV footage showed a foreign woman entering the restroom carrying a pink suitcase and a white tote bag. She later left the mall and took a taxi to Bangkok Apiwatthana Bus Terminal. Police tracked her to the terminal, where bloodstains were observed on her clothing. She was taken to Police General Hospital, where doctors confirmed she had recently given birth and required medical attention, including injections and stitches, necessitating an overnight stay. Authorities are awaiting laboratory results to confirm whether the newborn found in the bag is hers and to determine the cause of death. Investigators said evidence so far points to her as the mother, but the official forensic report will provide conclusive proof. The woman faces charges related to tampering with a corpse and concealing or disposing of a body. Police have urged witnesses and the public to come forward if they have any information to aid the ongoing investigation.