In New Zealand, a woman faces charges of child neglect after a 2-year-old girl was discovered inside a suitcase within a bus’s luggage compartment on Sunday, according to police reports.

Police Detective Inspector Simon Harrison stated that the bus driver found the toddler during a scheduled stop in Kaiwaka, a town in the Northland Region of New Zealand.

The suspect asked to access the compartment during the stop, said Harrison, acting crime manager for the Auckland-adjacent district of Waitematā.

“The driver became concerned when he noticed the bag moving,” he said. “When the driver opened the suitcase, they discovered the two-year-old girl.”

The young girl was promptly taken to a hospital for a thorough medical examination and was reported to be very warm, although she seemed unharmed physically, as described by Harrison.

The arrested individual is a 27-year-old woman whose identity has not been disclosed. She faces charges related to “ill-treatment/neglect” of a child, with potential for additional charges, according to authorities.

She is due in court Monday, Harrison said.

The reason behind the toddler being placed inside the suitcase remains unknown. Entrada Travel Group, which operates the country’s InterCity bus service, confirmed that the incident occurred on one of their buses.

According to the bus service’s website, children under the age of 2 can travel for free if seated on a guardian’s lap. For children aged 3 and above, accompanying guardians must purchase a child ticket, which is generally available at a significantly reduced price.

“We are aware of an incident involving a passenger on one of our services,” Entrada Travel Group said by email. “Police were called to respond and are investigating the matter. No one was harmed during the incident, and the service resumed.”

It said it could not comment further amid the ongoing investigation.

Harrison praised the bus driver for being aware and taking action.

“We would like to acknowledge and commend the bus driver, who noticed something wasn’t right and took immediate action, preventing what could have been a far worse outcome,” he said.

Kaiwaka is about 60 miles north of Auckland along the country’s central artery, State Highway 1.