Johor police chief: Four-year-old boy dies from suspected abuse, five arrested

JOHOR BARU, Dec 27 — A four-year-old boy, under critical care in the Sultan Ismail Hospital (HSI) here, died yesterday after he succumbed to serious injuries believed to be from physical abuse and torture by five of his older sister’s friends at a house in Batu Pahat four days ago.

Johor police chief Datuk Kamarul Zaman Mamat said police had already initiated child abuse investigations due to the injuries sustained by the victim even before his death.

He said there were inconsistencies in the police report lodged by a 23-year-old male suspect last Friday, claiming that the boy’s injuries were from a fall after he fainted at a house in Senggarang, Batu Pahat before being rushed to a clinic at 6.45pm.

Kamarul Zaman said the following day Batu Pahat district police’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) investigators managed to identify several individuals linked to the boy’s alleged abuse.

“Five suspects, involving two men and three women, aged between 15 and 37, were arrested by the CID team in a nine-hour operation that ended at 9.45pm on Saturday.

“Investigators also managed to seize several items from the suspects that are believed to be used in the alleged abuse and torture of the boy,” said Kamarul Zaman in a statement that was issued at midnight.

Kamarul Zaman explained that the victim was initially placed under the care of his biological sister as both their parents were currently serving imprisonment for drug offenses.

He said the victim was handed over to his sister’s friend to be cared for on Friday.

“The victim, who was being treated at the HSI here since Friday, succumbed to his injuries at 6.40pm yesterday.

“Initially this case was investigated for child abuse under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, which provides for a maximum fine of RM50,000 or 20 years imprisonment or both.

“However, investigators have reclassified the case as murder under Section 302 of the Penal Code following the death of the victim yesterday,” he said.

The suspects are remanded for a week starting on Sunday until December 31.