In a recent court ruling, a Mauritian couple was found guilty of abandoning their newborn baby girl at the Jawaharlal Nehru hospital in Rose-Belle, Mauritius, just five days after her birth. The incident occurred on May 23, 2015. The couple, who had a relationship outside of marriage, left their daughter, who was HIV-positive, without making arrangements for her care.
The baby girl, now 11 years old, has been under the care of the state in a shelter since her abandonment. The parents, aged 46 and 31, were sentenced by the Children's Court on September 11, 2026. The father received a 2.5-year prison sentence, while the mother was given 20 months. Both parents appealed the verdict and were released on bail of Rs 25,000 each.
According to court proceedings, the couple had decided to leave their daughter at the hospital due to financial difficulties and their inability to care for her. The father had claimed to have declared the child's birth and found a potential adoptive family but failed to follow through due to financial struggles. He admitted to not visiting his daughter for five years and only seeing her again when she was hospitalized.
The mother, who had given birth to the child out of wedlock while her partner was married, stated that she had separated from her husband three years prior and was living in a rented apartment with her other child. She and her partner had decided to leave the baby in the care of the Child Development Unit, citing their inability to assume responsibility for her.
The presiding magistrate, Kadampanavasini Sockalingum Juwaheer, condemned the couple's actions as showing "complete disrespect for the life and dignity of this child." The magistrate emphasized that parental responsibility cannot be abandoned due to difficulties in caring for a child and that the state cannot permanently replace parental duties.
The court heard that the child had never experienced a stable family life or the long-term presence of her parents. The magistrate highlighted the child's vulnerability, particularly due to her health condition, and stressed that every child, regardless of their birth circumstances, deserves protection, care, and dignity.
A formal trial was initiated by the Director of Public Prosecutions before the Children's Court on June 6, 2024, with both parents facing charges of child abandonment. The father pleaded not guilty, while the mother pleaded guilty.
Key points
- The couple was found guilty of abandoning their newborn HIV-positive baby girl at a hospital in 2015.
- The parents were sentenced to prison, with the father receiving 2.5 years and the mother 20 months.
- The magistrate emphasized that parental responsibility cannot be abandoned due to difficulties in caring for a child.
