Authorities seek 2nd suspect over infant's salt overdose death

[WildestDreams]

Authorities seek 2nd suspect over infant's salt overdose death

By Lauly Li, The China Post
November 29, 2013, 12:07 am TWN

The aunt of the 3-month-old infant, who is a suspect in her niece's death, poses for a photograph with her child in this undated photo. The suspect, surnamed Tsou, was detained by the Taipei District Prosecutors Office on Wednesday night. (CNA)

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- Investigators are looking for a second suspect in the death of a 3-month-old infant, after the infant's aunt admitted to having added salt to her niece's formula.

The Taipei District Prosecutors Office (TDPO) yesterday morning reportedly held a meeting to discuss a potential second suspect in the case.

Taipei prosecutors detained the infant's aunt on Wednesday night on allegations of homicide. Prosecutors said during a questioning session, the aunt, surnamed Tsou, admitted to having added various types of salt to the baby's formula many times between September and October.

A prosecutor reiterated Tsou's testimony, saying that Tsou and the infant's mother did not get along with each other, adding that Tsou claimed her purpose was to make the baby ill, not to kill her.

“I did not see this coming,” Tsou was quoted by the prosecutor.

According to the detention application submitted to the Taipei District Court, the prosecutors said Tsou attempted to conspire with another person, and thus the prosecutors requested the court hold her in detention.

The TDPO suspects that other family members might have known about what Tsou was doing to the baby but chose not to tell the police in order to protect Tsou, a source in the prosecutors office said.

The source said, moreover, that investigators suspect that the parents might have also known about it before holding a presser on Nov. 16, and if that is the case, then the parents' motive to hold a presser is questionable.

The victim's mother, surnamed Shen, yesterday held a press conference and said she never thought something like this would happen to her.

Shen said there was “no vendetta” between her and Tsou, whom she rarely spent time with, adding that she doesn't even have Tsou's cellphone number. Shen went on to say that she hopes the public will give the family some space to handle the matter.

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Taipei City Councilor Chien Yu-yan (簡余晏), who accompanied Shen at the press conference, said the baby, the parents, and the infant formula producer Norbel Baby are the victims. Chien said she is sorry for accusing the company of being responsible for the infant's death.

The parents and Chien held a press conference on Nov. 16 and claimed that Golden Infant Formula, made by Norbel Baby, caused the death of the 3-month-old baby girl, who was diagnosed with hypernatremia and acute renal failure before passing away.