A couple who allegedly dumped a newborn girl at a recycling bin in New Taipei City two years ago has been arrested by the Singapore police.

The Singapore Police Force (SPF) responded to Mothership's queries on May 11, saying that the man and woman, both aged 25, were arrested on April 28 for their suspected involvement in the death of a new-born baby in Taiwan two years ago.

The Police said that a request for assistance was made by the Taiwanese authorities after a newborn baby was found dead at a waste management facility in Taipei on Feb. 26, 2019.

Since then, the police have been working with the Taiwanese authorities to review the evidence and have commenced investigations, SPF said.

Investigations are ongoing.

Case background

In February 2019, the body of a newborn girl was found in a recycling bin in New Taipei City. The baby was discovered with her 30cm umbilical cord and placenta intact by a recycling company employee.

Investigations revealed that the baby was abandoned at Ximending, which is about 20 minutes away by car.

Security footage from more than 100 closed-circuit television cameras and immigration records led the Taiwanese authorities to the couple. The footage apparently revealed a man throwing the baby inside a black plastic bag, and then dumping the bag into a container full of kitchen waste.

The man was traced back to the hotel where he was staying with his girlfriend.

Taiwanese police later confirmed that blood samples found in the hotel room where the couple stayed matched the DNA of the baby. Pieces of placenta were also found in the hotel room's bathroom pipe.

Earlier in February this year, the Taiwanese authorities issued an arrest warrant against the couple after Taipei’s district prosecutor’s office has obtained “objective evidence” that the infant was alive at birth.

The case was then reclassified as a homicide.

As Singapore does not have an extradition treaty with Taiwan, the couple can only be arrested if they enter Taiwan or the authorities can request the Singapore police to help with obtaining evidence.

Top images via UDN News and Chinapress.