Coroner's inquiry opens into death of stillborn baby buried by mum, 15

A 15-year-old girl who was impregnated by her boyfriend, 14, gave birth to a boy in her bedroom alone and later buried her baby in her garden.

- Nadine Chua

The baby was born in June 2021, but his remains were uncovered only almost a year later in April 2022 after the girl admitted what she had done.

On Dec 23, a coroner's inquiry opened into the death of the newborn, with the investigation officer of the case noting that this was the first such case he had seen in his 33 years with the Singapore Police Force.

Inspector Thanabalan Kothandapani, the only witness called to the stand, told State Coroner Adam Nakhoda that the police were alerted to a case of underage sex that resulted in pregnancy.

In February, the father of the baby was handed 21 months of supervised probation for having sex with a minor and instigating his girlfriend to bury their stillborn child. The girl was given a conditional warning for her role in the case.

In view of the ages of the parents when the pregnancy took place, State Coroner Nakhoda imposed a gag order on their identities and that of the infant.