JOHOR BAHRU – A mother was left heartbroken when she found out that her son had to drink water from the toilet bowl and left to starve whenever he was locked in the toilet.
M. Ana, 34, said her son, who she only named as Navin, was allegedly abused by her husband and the victim’s plight was highlighted to her by non-governmental organisation (NGO) Johor Community Welfare Organisation on Friday.
She was shocked to see Navin’s condition when she met her son on Saturday after he was rescued.
"I was very saddened to see Navin's condition and I hardly recognised him because his physical condition is not the same as before.
"When Navin lived with me about two years ago, he weighed more than 60 kilogrammes and he was also a cheerful and friendly person," she said when contacted today.
Ana said when she met Navin, she found out that he often drank toilet water when he was hungry and sometimes only ate leftovers in their house.
Navin also revealed that he had to bear the pain when his father’s girlfriend deliberately beaten him up and injured him with fire.
"I did not see their actions, but whoever the perpetrators are, I will not forgive them and hope this will be brought to justice. I cannot imagine Navin's fate if he is not saved by the police, maybe we would lose him," she said, adding that she teared up every time she thought about her son’s suffering for the past six months.
"I have lodged a report seven times including in Banting, Selangor because my husband did not allow me to meet Navin for more than a year. He may have been a victim of abuse during that period," she said.
Ana said Navin said he wanted to go home with her but she persuaded him to be patient because he was currently receiving treatment at the Sultanah Aminah Hospital (HSA) here.
On Tuesday, it was reported that the suffering of the child who had been abused for the past six months ended after the complainant who was also his neighbour noticed the abuse before being rescued by the Johor Community Welfare Organisation and the Kangkar Pulai Indian Residents Association on Friday.
Johor Community Welfare Organisation founder M. Caren Nantheny said the victim lived with his biological father, his girlfriend and the woman's three-year-old daughter in Taman Pulai Jaya, Skudai here.
Caren said the two associations then asked for help from the police and Welfare Department after the suspect did not cooperate when they wanted to see the victim on Thursday night before the two were arrested on Friday evening.