MELAKA: A 36-year-old nude man was arrested on Tuesday night (Sept 29) after allegedly attempting to abduct a two-year-old girl and steal a car in Taman Ayer Molek.
Melaka Tengah OCPD Asst Comm Halim Abas said police detained the suspect at around 8.20pm following reports that he was behaving aggressively and harassing members of the public.
According to ACP Halim, the incident began around 8.00pm when the suspect entered a car parked inside a resident's home compound. The homeowner managed to get his son out of the vehicle and attempted to pull the suspect out, but the man refused to leave and became aggressive.
The suspect then allegedly tried to snatch a mobile phone from the owner’s wife before grabbing their two-year-old daughter.
"The father fought to retrieve his daughter, resulting in a brief struggle before members of the public stepped in and helped restrain the suspect until police arrived," ACP Halim said on Wednesday (Sept 30).
The suspect, who suffered a head injury during the commotion, was taken to the Tiang Dua police station.
Investigations revealed that the suspect tested positive for tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in an initial urine screening and has a prior criminal conviction under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017.
Police have obtained a seven-day remand order, effective from Sept 30 to Oct 6.
The case is being investigated under Sections 12(3) and 15(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 (possession and consumption of drugs), Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 (physical sexual assault against a child), and Sections 324 and 377D of the Penal Code (voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons/means and outraging decency).
Several video clips of the incident captured by onlookers have since circulated widely on social media. The suspect is also believed to be linked to two earlier incidents, including an alleged assault on a 62-year-old silat instructor.
