JOHOR BARU: Police have not ruled out that the children’s online game Roblox may have influenced the slashing of a six-year-old boy in Batu Pahat.
Johor police chief Comm Datuk Ab Rahaman Arsad said the incident occurred on Monday (Oct 27) at Kampung Parit Nipah Laut in Parit Raja.
He said the victim was found with slash wounds on his neck and stab injuries on his body.
“Preliminary investigations found that the victim’s nine year old elder brother had been playing Roblox extensively and had collected about one million points,” he said.
“The boy’s mobile phone was later damaged by his younger brother, which allegedly caused the points to be lost,” added Comm Ab Rahaman.
He then said that the suspect may have experienced hallucinations at night related to the game, during which he claimed he was told to harm his family.
Comm Ab Rahaman said this at a press conference after the Johor police monthly assembly at the state police headquarters on Wednesday (Oct 29).
He said the boy then took a knife from the house and attacked his brother.
“The victim was found with slash and stab injuries. He is receiving treatment at Batu Pahat Hospital and is in stable condition,” he added.
Comm Ab Rahaman said the boys’ parents, both in their 40s, have been arrested to assist investigations.
“Both parents were detained as we believe they have knowledge of the incident,” he said.
“They have been remanded until Thursday (October 30),” he added.
He said police have also questioned other family members, including their 15-year-old sister.
“Investigations are still in the early stages, and we have yet to record the victim’s statement as he has not fully recovered,” he said.
Comm Ab Rahaman said both the victim and his elder brother are under the Social Welfare Department’s supervision.
“They are under JKM’s care and cannot be detained like criminal suspects,” he said.
He added that police have referred the investigation papers to the Johor State Legal Adviser’s Office for further action.
“At this point, our investigation focuses on the family and determining the actual cause of the incident,” he said.
The victim’s mother lodged a police report on Monday.
She stated that her youngest child had suffered injuries to the neck and added that she made the discovery just after waking up at around 5.30am at their home in Parit Raja.
