Malawi Police arrest Western Union employee for dumping baby in pit toilet

A 24-year-old woman, Gladys Phiri, is currently in police custody for allegedly dumping her new born baby boy in a pit latrine in Chilomoni Township, Blantyre.

Phiri an employee of Western Union gave birth to the baby in the wee hours of September 18th, 2015 and allegedly dumped it in the toilet to conceal birth following months of disguising the pregnancy.

The baby, according to police, was discovered by the suspect’s neighbours and was quickly rushed to Mitsidi Health Clinic where the baby was pronounced dead.

Phiri was arrested following a medical examination, and has since been charged with Infanticide contrary to Section 230 of the Penal Code.

“The baby according to medical report died of suffocation. We arrested the suspect on Saturday 19th September and she is currently in custody,” said Blantyre police Public Relations Officer, Elizabeth Divala.

The suspect had gone into labor in her home in Sigelege in Chilomoni Townships on September 18th and instead of calling for help; she single handedly prised the 2kgs baby from her body before dumping it into the toilet.

And according to family relations, Phiri went to great lengths to hide the pregnancy and was forced to dump the baby to conceal birth after her boyfriend denied responsibility.

“Her boyfriend had denied being responsible for the pregnancy. And what made the situation complicated is the fact that apart from the boyfriend, she was also going out with her boss,” one of the relations confided in Nyasa Times.

“She tried all she could to hide her pregnancy by the fear that her relationship with her father would change if he found out the truth”.

Phiri hails from Anderson village in Traditional Authority (T/A) Kuntaja in Blantyre.