A 22-year-old Melbourne woman, Sofina Nikat, briefly faced an out of sessions hearing at a Melbourne police station on Tuesday night charged with one count of murdering her daughter, Sanaya Sahib, whose body was found in a Melbourne creek on Sunday.

Det Snr Sgt Stuart Bailey told the short hearing Nikat was arrested on Tuesday morning in Mont Albert.

Nikat only spoke when asked by the bail justice if she had been looked after in custody.

Sanaya’s body was found in the Darebin Creek on Sunday less than 24 hours after Nikat had told police her daughter had been snatched from her pram in a Heidelberg West park.

Previously police have told reporters the pair, from Mitcham, were staying with relatives in Heidelberg West after a separation between Nikat and Sanaya’s father.

Nikat did not apply for bail and was remanded to appear at the Melbourne magistrates court on Wednesday.