Police: No truth in Facebook post of toddler abduction in Puchong

SUBANG JAYA: Police have denied a viral post claiming that a toddler was abducted after being coaxed with bread outside a shop in Puchong Perdana.

The rumours came after a Facebook post alleged that the six-year-old girl was "almost taken" by a couple at about 2pm outside a shop in Puchong Perdana on Sept 27.

This occurred when her father, who was inside the shop, saw the incident and rushed out to rescue the daughter.

Newly-appointed Subang Jaya deputy OCPD Supt Lee Swee Meng said there's no truth in the claims.

"We have received no police report on this and we have recorded statements from the shopkeeper and the person who posted the story on Facebook.

"There was no attempted abduction. The story is not true," Supt Lee said.

He showed reporters closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage from within the shop, showing a man dressed in a black shirt paying for items at the counter.

As he leaves, the father, also dressed in black, walked into the camera's view with his daughter behind him. While the father was paying for his items, the toddler followed the first man in black out into the street.

The father noticed she was missing a few minutes later and rushed outside to find her. Father and daughter then went inside the shop for several more minites before finally leaving.

"Maybe the girl mistook the first man as her father and followed him. Because they are both wearing the same coloured shirt," Supt Lee said.

Community Policing Malaysia founder Kuan Chee Heng, who posted the original allegation of the attempted abduction, said he received the information in his post from the father of the alleged victim.

He said the father was hysterical and made claims that his daughter was almost taken. He also apparently gave Kuan the number plate of the car of the alleged suspects - which the former policeman also posted on his Facebook.

"If it was a mistake then its a mistake. But what if it was true? Getting the information out as early as possible is important if it was really a kidnapping," he said.

He has since taken down the original post.