SUNGAI PETANI: A class teacher was surprised to find a Year One pupil wearing a jacket in class and refusing to remove it during lessons.
The teacher also noticed the boy acting suspiciously and when told to remove his jacket, the teacher was shocked to find bruises and swelling on his head and neck area.
The boy was brought to the school's senior assistant in charge of student affairs who checked the boy further and found bruises and injuries on other parts of the body such as the elbow, behind the left ear and an old tear mark at the lips.
The boy was then brought to the police station where the 52-year-old senior assistant of the school in Pekan Lama here lodged a report about the incident.
Kuala Muda OCPD Asst Comm Zaidy Che Hassan said the victim's father - a 29-year-old factory worker was arrested after he confessed to beating the boy with a rotan, broomstick and plastic holder.
ACP Zaidy said the boy was admitted to the Sultan Abdul Halim Hospital pending further investigations.
It is learnt that the boy, believed to be the eldest son, was living with his father and stepmother and had just started school at a primary school here.
The boy had earlier been taken care of by his grandmother who was staying in Tanjung Dawai.
"Upon questioning, the suspect said the boy was hyperactive and did not listen to him and had been continuously beaten for two months.
"The suspect is under police custody while the three objects allegedly used to abuse the boy have been seized.
"The case is being investigated under Section 31 (1) Child Act 2001 for child abuse," added ACP Zaidy.