Nine-year-old boy strangled to death by teen brother

MELAKA - A nine-year-old boy is believed to have been strangled by his 14-year-old elder brother in an incident at Kampung Bukit Piatu here on Wednesday.

The victim's neighbour, who was also a witness to the incident, Qhurun Ain Johani, 31, said he found out about the incident when he was contacted by the victim’s mother, who told him that the eldest of the four siblings was strangling his brother.

According to the housewife, the victim's mother became aware of the incident after watching it on her mobile phone via a closed-circuit television camera (CCTV) installed in their rented house.

She said the victim did not attend school because of eye pain and was staying with his brother, who is believed to have been suffering from health problems for the past few weeks.

"I rushed to their house and was shocked to see the victim lying on the floor in a blue state.

"His brother seemed unaware of what was happening and was still strangling his younger brother until some other neighbours came to help," he said when met on Wednesday.

She added that the older brother was a good boy and often played with the neighbours' children, but he was surprised when he changed after returning from the tahfiz school where he studied.

She said the teenager was alleged to have experienced trauma and had been possessed recently.

Meanwhile, Melaka district police chief assistant commissioner Christopher Patit confirmed the incident.

She said the case involving two brothers, aged 9 and 14, is currently under investigation.

"The public is advised not to make any speculations that could interfere with the investigation and protect the family's sensitivity," she said.