Four Children Found Dead in Car in Batam

The Jakarta Globe, March 01, 2013


Four children were found dead in the backseat of a car in Batam on Friday.

They were previously reported to have been missing for two days.

Batam police spokesman Adj. Comr. Hartono told the Jakarta Globe that the police suspected the children died because they ran out of oxygen. Police also said that the bodies were bruised and sustained burn injuries, so the case is still under investigation.

“That’s the temporary suspicion, we are currently still investigating the real cause of death,” he said.

Three boys and one girl, aged 3 to 6, were reported missing by their parents on Thursday. The parents claimed their children were last seen playing in the Cik Puan market, Sei Panas, Batam on Wednesday.

However, they did not return home and the parents decided to file a report.

The bodies were found after some mechanics near the Cik Puan market noticed a foul smell and discovered the bodies inside of the broken cars usually parked in front of their workshop. They called the police.

Some witnesses said the children were last seen following a woman.

Hartono declined to elaborate, citing the investigation was still underway. He also did not say if the police had arrested the suspects.