JOHOR BARU: The mother of six-year-old A. Tishant, whose tragic death shocked the nation, is believed to have attempted suicide due to grief and trauma over the incident.
Johor women, family and community development committee chairman Khairin Nisa Ismail confirmed the matter when contacted on Wednesday (July 30).
"Yes, yesterday (July 29) we sent officers from the state Welfare Department to offer assistance to the victim’s family, but they declined the support.
"We were also informed that Tishant’s mother had tried to take her own life and was sent to a hospital for treatment," she said.
Khairin Nisa added that her office is currently waiting for the hospital’s medical report before providing psychological and other forms of support to the grieving family.
Tishant was reported missing on July 24 in Taman Bukit Indah, Iskandar Puteri. His father was subsequently detained by police to assist in the investigation.
Four days later, the boy’s body was discovered buried in Rompin, Jempol.
On Tuesday (July 29), strangulation was identified as the cause of death of the child whose body was found buried in Rompin.
Negri Sembilan police chief Dep Comm Datuk Ahmad Dzaffir Mohd Yussof said the post-mortem examination was conducted at Rembau Hospital.
"The cause of death is due to strangulation using cable ties. The medical team estimates that the victim died between 9am and 11am on July 23," he said.
DCP Ahmad Dzaffir stated that the case is being probed under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder as well as under the Child Act 2001.
Iskandar Puteri OCPD Asst Comm M. Kumarasan had said the boy's father had lodged a report on the child's disappearance on July 24, claiming that his son went missing near a coffee shop in Taman Bukit Indah.
The father was later arrested as a suspect.
Jempol police chief Supt Norhisham Mustapar said police seized a hoe believed to have been used to bury the body.
The body was found buried near a railway line, far from residential areas.
Supt Norhisham said the suspect remains in the custody of Johor police under remand until July 31.
"We will question him further once the suspect is brought back here," he said.
