MELAKA: Police have arrested a 36-year-old businessman over allegations he sexually abused up to 10 boys whom he met at a playground here.
Melaka police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Dzulkhairi Mukhtar said the suspect was apprehended by the public in Taman Desa Duyong at about 6pm on Sunday (July 12) after a few victims shared their ordeals with their parents.
DCP Dzulkhairi said the suspect is linked to 10 cases involving boys aged from eight and 13.
He said there were incidences involving eight boys aged from eight to 12, with alleged offences committed in a playground in Duyong from March to July 2026.
He said the suspect would approach victims at the playground or after attending prayers at a surau before allegedly hugging, kissing the victims on the cheek or forehead and touching their private parts.
DCP Dzulkhairi said another victim is a 13-year-old whom the suspect got to know at a playground and surau.
He said the suspect exploited the relationship by allegedly sodomising the victim at the suspect's house in March.
Another victim, an 11-year-old boy, was allegedly abused on July 8 and 9 at Taman Desa Duyong, a supermarket in Duyong and an eatery in Semabok here.
"The suspect allegedly touched the victim's private parts and kissed him on the cheek repeatedly," he said on Monday (July 13).
DCP Dzulkhairi said police identified a recurring pattern, including hugging the victims, kissing them on the cheek or forehead, touching their private parts and sodomising one of the victims.
He added that the suspect has been remanded until July 19 to assist investigations under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017.
