Couple charged over babies found in jars

A couple will appear at Fanling Magistrates' Court today for the alleged illegal burial of two baby boys, whose bodies were found in their vacated Tuen Mun flat.

The couple, a 24-year-old warehouse keeper surnamed Lam and his 22-year-old girlfriend surnamed Chow who works as a public relations employee, were arrested Friday in Yau Ma Tei. They are believed to be the parents of the two boys.

Cleaning workers were working at a residential unit in Mei Hang Building in San Hui when they discovered the bodies, each in two 30-centimeter high glass jars soaked in an unknown liquid, in the living room.

The forensic doctor who conducted a preliminary autopsy at Fu Shan Public Mortuary in Tai Wai determined that the two infants were approximately 24 to 30 weeks old with no apparent sign of injuries, chief inspector Au Yeung Tak of the New Territories North unit said yesterday.

However, the liquid content still requires further testing.

Au Yeung said it was not possible to determine the time of death - whether they died before or after birth - and the cause of death. The investigation also revealed no hospital birth records for the two boys.

Forensic doctors have extracted DNA from the babies and test it against the DNA of the two arrested persons to confirm their links, he added.

Police believe Lam has a triad background.

"This case is a tragedy and we appeal to the public, especially pregnant women and expectant parents, to seek professional medical advice and take proper care of their babies," Au Yeung said. "The parents will be held criminally responsible if their babies died due to improper care."

Under Hong Kong law, the charge of prevention of lawful burial carries a maximum sentence of seven years' imprisonment.

It is understood that the couple rented the 400-square-foot two-room unit in December 2022 for HK$8,500 a month on a two-year contract.

But the landlord asked them to move out after they owed six months' rent.

Due to the sudden order, they failed to move all their belongings in time, leaving the two glass bottles shrouded in white cloth, which were discovered by cleaners sent by the landlord, sources said.

The investigation also found that some units have been rented out as massage establishments with various types of people frequenting the building, while residents and nearby shop owners knew little about the couple and never saw a pregnant woman living in the building.

A resident who recently moved to the building said he seldom met the tenants in question but saw the landlord come to collect rent.

stacy.shi@singtaonewscorp.com