Babysitter suspected of abusing boy with autism

KUALA LUMPUR: A babysitter has been arrested on suspicion of abusing a six-year-old boy with autism at a daycare centre in Ampang here.

Ampang Jaya OCPD Asst Comm Mohamad Farouk Eshak said the police arrested the female suspect at 1.50pm on Sunday after receiving a report from the boy’s father on Friday.

He added that the victim is believed to have been abused between 8.45am and 12.45pm on Friday after the father found bruises on the boy’s shoulder and both eyes when he picked up the child from the centre.

ACP Mohamad Farouk said a teacher at the centre told the father that there was a red mark on the side of the boy’s left forehead, claiming that the victim had hit his head on a table.

“The boy’s father then viewed the CCTV footage and found that the suspect had acted violently when his son refused to eat his meal,” he said yesterday.

He added that a further investigation found that the 51-year-old woman is the manager of the place and employed three local workers, who were also at the scene.

“The woman has seven children including the victim under her care and all are autistic.

“Further investigation found that the centre has been operating for seven years. Its licence has expired,” he said.

ACP Mohamad Farouk said the woman, whose visit pass is believed to have expired, has been remanded until today to assist in investigation under Section 31 (1) (a) of the Child Act 2001 for neglect and Section 15 (1) of the Immigration Act 1952 for overstaying and having an expired social pass. — Bernama