A premature baby died after its parents allegedly concealed its birth and did not seek medical attention for the child, the High Criminal Court heard yesterday.
Three expatraites are on trial for mistreating the baby through neglect and unintentionally leading to its death, then secretly burying it in an unmarked grave in Adhari.
Had the infant, who was born between six and seven months of pregnancy, been taken to the hospital, it would have likely survived, according to medical sources.
The parents, 35-year-old Pakistani man and a 26-year-old Filipina, were accused of concealing the premature baby’s birth, despite being legally required to notify the government of it.
They, along with a 38-year-old Filipina, were charged with burying the baby’s corpse without informing the authorities, thus preventing an investigation into the death.
Both Filipinas, who both work part-time at a park, were further charged with residing and working in Bahrain without a valid visa.
All three suspects admitted to their accusations under questioning, the court heard, and the mother stated that the baby died at two days of age and was buried in an open lot next to her workplace in Adhari.
Authorities went to the location and exhumed the body, which appeared be in a state of decomposition, was wrapped in a cloth and covered in soil. A medical examiner inspected the corpse and noted that it was 40cm long, and had hair, limbs and ribs, although its insides had already decomposed.
“The corpse appeared to be six to seven months gestational age, its bones were fully formed and there were no fractures or wounds,” said the forensic doctor who conducted the autopsy.
“We were not able to ascertain its sex.
“Furthermore, it is impossible to find out if it was a live or stillbirth, but it was not in its placenta.
“The umbilical cord was cut and tied with a non-medical thread, which indicates that it did not receive medical attention after birth. A baby of this age requires specialised care to remain alive. Not allowing it to receive treatment was a form of neglect.”
A DNA test revealed that the defendants were his biological parents. The mother was medically examined, and prosecutors state that there was evidence of a recent, natural delivery.
Witnesses – mainly the Filipinas’ coworkers – testified that the mother lied to them and said that she sent the baby back to his father’s home country.
“I found out that the defendant was pregnant from her husband, and in August she told me that she gave birth, so I asked her about the baby and she said it was alright,” a co-worker stated. “In December, I decided to bring some baby supplies as a present, but was told that the baby died and was buried next to work,” she told the Public Prosecution.
The three expats were charged with not maintaining the child’s life and safety by going to a doctor, leading to its death without them intending to do so. Judges set April 14 as the date a verdict will be made in the case.
zainab@gdnmedia.bh
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