Nine-year-old brutally beaten by stepmother for failing to understand lesson

DUNGUN - A Year three student had to endure physical pain and injuries believed to have been inflicted by the stepmother for failing to understand lessons being taught last Saturday.

During school assembly on Monday, a male teacher noticed the victim's condition when the student complained of back pain.

Dungun District Police Chief Superintendent Baharudin Abdullah said upon examination by a female teacher, it was discovered that the student had severe bruises and wounds on multiple parts of her body.

A police report was lodged.

"The results of the physical examination found that there were 11 marks of bruises and wounds on the victim's body, believed to have been beaten with an object.

"In addition, there are bruises on the right and left arm and bruises on both thighs," he told Sinar, today.

Baharuddin said initial investigations found that the victim was beaten with a cane in a prayer room for failing to understand the lessons taught by the suspect, the stepmother.

"The victim's sister saw the incident while their father who works as a hardware shop assistant was at work," he said.

Baharuddin said the police arrested a 30-year-old suspect who is a housewife at about 3.30pm on the same day.

He said that a review of past records found that the suspect had no criminal record and was remanded for four days at the Dungun Magistrate's Court from Tuesday to Friday.

"We have issued Form Pol 59 (police) to the victim to seek follow-up treatment at Dungun Hospital.

"The case is being investigated under Section 31(1) (a) of the Children Act 2001," he added.