Couple deny abusing boy who died from severe burns

KUALA LUMPUR: The mother and stepfather of Mohammad Akhil Mustaqim Rashidy, the six-year-old who died of severe burns from alleged abuse on Monday, have denied they ever laid a finger on the child.

The boy’s 31-year-old mother and 35-year-old stepfather, who are being remanded until June 2 to facilitate a murder investigation, claim they do not know how Mohammad Akhil ended up with 33.5% burns on his face and body.

“They are being very careful about what they are saying and are denying they abused the victim. Whether or not that is true, only God knows,” said Ampang Jaya OCPD ACP Khairuldin Saad, Friday.

He said police were, in the meantime, collecting statements from the couple’s neighbours and Mohammad Akhil’s friends while the case was being investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code.

The couple were arrested at 5.30pm on Monday at their home in Pangsapuri Permai Ria in Ampang. Mohammad Akhil reportedly fell unconscious hours earlier and was pronounced dead at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital.

Doctors said the boy had 33.5% burns on his body, face, hands and legs believed to have been caused by boiling water.

Mohammad Akhil was the fourth of five children, and had been staying with the suspects since his mother and biological father divorced in 2009.

The boy’s biological father said that he and his ex-wife were divorced in 2009 and that he had not seen his son since.

He added that he was not aware that his ex-wife had remarried.

He said that he was informed by his ex-wife about the death at about 3pm on Monday.