Man who put vape in baby’s mouth remanded

JOHOR BARU: A burger seller’s reckless act of placing a vape device into the mouth of a seven-month-old baby at an eatery here has landed him in a lock-up for five days.

Magistrate R. Salini issued the remand order against the suspect at the court complex here yesterday.

Johor Baru North OCPD Asst Comm Rupiah Abd Wahid said the 23-year-old was arrested on Monday afternoon after his statement was recorded.

The suspect – a friend of the baby’s aunt – was having a meal with her and the baby’s mother in Bandar Baru Uda at about 3pm on Saturday when the incident happened, said ACP Rupiah.

“According to the baby’s mum, the suspect – who was carrying her daughter at the time – was joking around before inserting a non-functioning vape into the girl’s mouth.

“The incident was caught on video by the aunt, who later uploaded it on social media,” she said.

The clip, which went viral, drew heavy criticism from the public.

ACP Rupiah said the baby’s mother had lodged a police report.

She said an investigation was being carried out under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2011, which provides for a jail term of up to 20 years or a maximum fine of RM50,000, or both, upon conviction.

She advised the public to refrain from commenting further, circulating the clip or spreading false information which could heighten discomfort among the people.

In the video clip, a woman’s voice can be heard giggling and saying “pecah rekod, ah” (break record) behind the recording device as the man inserts the vape device into the baby’s mouth.