Police probe suspected dumping case after newborn’s remains wash ashore on a closed Batam beach.
Children playing at Sekilak Beach in Nongsa, Batam, discovered the decomposing body of a newborn boy, prompting a police investigation into who may have abandoned him and where he was first dumped.
Discovery By Children Playing In The Water
Residents of Nongsa were shocked on Wednesday afternoon, May 20, when several children swimming and playing near Sekilak Beach spotted what looked like a baby floating close to shore around 5:30 p.m. Nongsa Police chief Kompol Eriman said the children alerted nearby adults and the local neighborhood head (RW), who went to check the object more closely. At first glance, some residents thought it was just a doll washed in by the tide.
From “Doll” To Grim Reality
RW chairman Efendi inspected the object and confirmed it was in fact the body of a baby boy, already decomposing and covered with flies. Only then did residents realise it was not a toy. The discovery was immediately reported to Nongsa Police, who arrived at the scene with an Inafis forensic team at about 6 p.m. to secure the area and conduct a preliminary crime scene examination.
Signs The Baby Was Newly Born
Officers noted that the infant was male and appeared to be a full‑term newborn. The umbilical cord was still attached to his body, indicating he had likely been born only days earlier. Based on the state of decomposition and physical condition, police estimate the baby had been dead for two to three days. The remains were taken to Bhayangkara Hospital at the Riau Islands Police headquarters for a formal autopsy and further forensic analysis.
Suspected To Have Drifted In From Elsewhere
Kompol Eriman said investigators believe the baby’s body was not originally dumped at Sekilak Beach, which is currently closed to the public, but was carried there by sea currents. “The condition suggests it was washed ashore. We suspect the discovery site is not the original dumping location,” he said. Police are awaiting autopsy results to determine whether the baby was discarded while still alive or after death, a key factor in establishing potential charges.
Ongoing Search For Who Abandoned The Infant
Nongsa Police have opened an investigation to identify whoever may have abandoned the child. Officers are interviewing residents, checking nearby coastal areas and looking into any recent reports of suspicious activity or pregnancies that suddenly “disappeared.” Authorities are also trying to trace possible points along the coastline where the baby could have first been thrown into the water before drifting to Sekilak. Further updates will be shared once the autopsy findings are available.
The discovery of a decomposing newborn boy’s body at Sekilak Beach has left Nongsa residents shaken and raised urgent questions about how and why he was abandoned. For Indonesians and Singaporeans, especially those in nearby maritime communities, the case underscores both the vulnerability of infants in crisis pregnancies and the need for vigilant community reporting and compassionate support systems that might prevent such tragedies.
Sources: Batampos (2026) , Batam News (2026)
Keywords: Baby Body Discovery, Kompol Eriman Statement, Pantai Sekilak Case, Newborn Male With Umbilical Cord, Bhayangkara Hospital Autopsy, Batam Coastal Investigation
