JOHOR BARU, Dec 29 — A blow to the head with a hard and blunt object is believed to have been the main cause of death of a four-year-old boy suspected to have been an abuse victim in Batu Pahat three days ago.
Johor police chief Datuk Kamarul Zaman Mamat today disclosed some details from the boy’s post-mortem examination that had been carried out at the Sultan Ismail Hospital (HSI) here.
Apart from the head trauma, he said scratch and bite marks were also found on the boy’s body.
“For now, we are still waiting for the final autopsy report from the medical experts,” he told reporters at the state police contingent headquarters here.
The boy has not been publicly named as investigations are ongoing.
Kamarul Zaman said police have summoned 10 people, including the boy’s relatives, to assist in investigations.
He said more are expected to be called later on.
“In addition to that, police will apply to extend the remand order on the five suspects who are currently in police custody until investigations are completed,” he said.
The current remand order for the five suspects ends this Saturday.
The boy died last Tuesday at HSI where he had been warded for critical injuries suspected to have resulted from physical abuse and torture.
Preliminary investigations showed there had been several fresh and old wounds on the boy’s body.
Police initially investigated his case as 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 before reclassifying it as murder under Section 302 of the Penal Code.
The case had drawn widespread public interest with the Permaisuri of Johor Raja Zarith Sofiah Idris Shah weighing in on her official Facebook page with the reminder on the community’s responsibility to protect children.
