JOHOR BARU: A couple have been arrested for abusing their four-year-old son, which led to his death.
Iskandar Puteri OCPD Asst Comm Rahmat Ariffin said the female suspect was the boy’s biological mother while the male suspect, her husband, was the victim's stepfather.
“We arrested the woman, in her 20s, and the man at 1.30pm on Friday (April 28) after the victim was pronounced dead on arrival at Hospital Sultanah Aminah's emergency unit at 8.20am.
“The victim had injuries to his head, back of the ears, stomach and legs. The couple was said to have hurt the boy with their hands and a clothes hanger.
“They also admitted to hurting the victim when we questioned them,” he said in a statement Saturday (April 29).
ACP Rahmat added that the male suspect, a security guard in his 30s, had a criminal record.
He added that the female suspect is currently two months pregnant.
Along with the arrest of the couple, police also confiscated their mobile phones and items believed to have been used on the victim.
The male suspect has been placed under remand for seven days until May 5 while the victim’s mother is under a two-day remand until April 30 to aid in investigations under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001.
ACP Rahmat added that police are still looking for witnesses as the investigation is underway.
