SEREMBAN: Police are probing a couple for allegedly abusing a 10-year-old boy who was found loitering outside a row of shops in Nilai near here.
Nilai police chief Supt Johari Yahaya said police detained the couple believed to be the boy's mother and stepfather, both in their 20s, to assist investigations around 2pm on Wednesday (Jan 7).
They also seized a clothes hanger and phone charging cable from the duo.
He said police will apply an order to remand the couple tomorrow (Jan 8).
"A food delivery rider found the boy loitering outside a row of shops around 5.30pm on Tuesday (Jan 6) and called the police.
"The boy was then taken to a house in Desa Palma but there was no one at home," he said, adding that a physical examination of the boy conducted by police personnel showed possible signs of abuse.
He said police managed to get the boy's mother's mobile phone number from neighbours and called her to the Nilai station for questioning.
He said the boy's stepfather arrived alone at the station around 1.40am today and upon being asked on his wife's whereabouts, said she was unwell.
Supt Johari said the boy has been sent to the Tuanku Ja'afar Hospital for a medical check-up.
"Our investigations revealed that the boy had also received treatment at a hospital in Klang for hot water burns in 2020," he said.
The case was being investigated under Section 31(1) of the Child Act 2001.
