JOHOR BAHRU - The four-year-old boy who died at Hospital Sultan Ismail (HSI) on Monday was a victim of abuse, confirms police.
Johor Police Chief Datuk Kamarul Zaman Mamat said preliminary investigations showed that the child had suferred serious injuries almost all over his body as the results of repeated beatings and burn marks believed to have been caused by hot objects.
The victim had suffered injuries throughout his entire body, from head to toe and had several new and old injuries, he added.
"Police will investigate this case thoroughly and those involved will be brought to justice," he said at a press conference at the HSI Forensic Department on Tuesday.
He said the victim, who was the youngest of 11 siblings, was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) on Dec 23 and pronounced dead at 6.40 pm yesterday.
Kamarul Zaman said the injuries found were both old and new, and police were still waiting for the autopsy report.
He also added that Batu Pahat District Police Headquarters (IPD) Criminal Investigation Division (BSJ) had arrested five individuals aged 15 to 37-years old, around Senggarang area, on Saturday.
"All five individuals have been remanded for seven days from Dec 25 to Dec 31, to assist in the investigation under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder.
"Those arrested were two men and three women; they were the boy's 19-year-old sister and her 37-year-old husband as well as the sister's three friends for further investigation.
"Initially the case was investigated under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001 but the police have reclassified the case to Section 302 of the Penal Code following the child's death," he added.
Kamarul said early investigations found the victim was the youngest of 11 siblings and was taken care by his sister after their parents were imprisoned for drug offences.
He said police seized items suspected to be used to abuse the victim, among were a 29-inch steel pipe, a hanger, fan cover as well as a bed sheet and a pillowcase.
Sinar Harian on Tuesday, reported a four-year-old child had died after he was believed to be abused by five of his sister's friends in a house at Senggarang, Batu Pahat, on Friday.
Johor Police Chief Datuk Kamarul Zaman Mamat said preliminary investigations showed that the child had suferred serious injuries almost all over his body as the results of repeated beatings and burn marks believed to have been caused by hot objects.
The victim had suffered injuries throughout his entire body, from head to toe and had several new and old injuries, he added.
"Police will investigate this case thoroughly and those involved will be brought to justice," he said at a press conference at the HSI Forensic Department on Tuesday.
He said the victim, who was the youngest of 11 siblings, was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) on Dec 23 and pronounced dead at 6.40 pm yesterday.
Kamarul Zaman said the injuries found were both old and new, and police were still waiting for the autopsy report.
He also added that Batu Pahat District Police Headquarters (IPD) Criminal Investigation Division (BSJ) had arrested five individuals aged 15 to 37-years old, around Senggarang area, on Saturday.
"All five individuals have been remanded for seven days from Dec 25 to Dec 31, to assist in the investigation under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder.
"Those arrested were two men and three women; they were the boy's 19-year-old sister and her 37-year-old husband as well as the sister's three friends for further investigation.
"Initially the case was investigated under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001 but the police have reclassified the case to Section 302 of the Penal Code following the child's death," he added.
Kamarul said early investigations found the victim was the youngest of 11 siblings and was taken care by his sister after their parents were imprisoned for drug offences.
He said police seized items suspected to be used to abuse the victim, among were a 29-inch steel pipe, a hanger, fan cover as well as a bed sheet and a pillowcase.
Sinar Harian on Tuesday, reported a four-year-old child had died after he was believed to be abused by five of his sister's friends in a house at Senggarang, Batu Pahat, on Friday.