Rumours about children can race faster than facts, especially on social media.
This is doubly so when allegations of serious crimes such as kidnapping are brought into the equation.
Recently, a clip went viral on social media along with the claim that a young girl was kidnapped recently in Kuala Berang, Terengganu.
Is this claim actually true?
VERDICT:
FALSE
The police have denied that a six-year-old girl was kidnapped in Kuala Berang on Wednesday (Sept 10).
Hulu Terengganu OCPD Supt Sharudin Abdul Wahab said investigations found that an autistic girl had left a community-based rehabilitation centre unnoticed before being found by a person walking along the main road.
"The centre uses hand-tying therapy as a method to train her to sit still during meals, which was agreed to by her mother," he said in a statement on Wednesday.
"However, the girl managed to slip out unnoticed after another child opened the door," added Supt Sharudin.
He said no criminal element was involved in the incident and the girl's mother also denied social media speculation about a kidnapping.
Sharudin advised the public not to spread photos or videos of the girl to protect the reputation of her family and the centre.
Earlier, a 30-second video clip went viral on social media, prompting public caution over a suspected kidnapping in Kuala Berang.
