Police detain mother, female friend over child abuse case

JOHOR BAHRU - The police have arrested a local and a foreign woman on Saturday to assist in the investigation of a seven-year-old boy abuse case in a house in the Layangkasa housing area, in Pasir Gudang, here, on Friday.

Johor Police Chief Datuk Kamarul Zaman Mamat said the 27-year-old local woman, who is also the victim's mother, and the 30-year-old foreign woman were arrested by a police team from the Seri Alam District Police Headquarters (IPD) at around 12.30am on Friday.

He said the police also seized two canes while detaining the two suspects.

"As a result of the investigation, the police found that both suspects have no prior criminal records, and the case is being investigated under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001.

"If convicted, the offense can be punished with imprisonment of not more than 20 years or a fine not exceeding RM50,000 or both," he said in a statement on Saturday.

Kamarul added that the victim's mother, who is also a homemaker, is now remanded under Section 117 of the Criminal Procedure Code for six days from Aug 12 to Aug 17.

Additionally, he said the foreign woman, who works as a factory technician and lives together in the same house, is detained for seven days from Aug 12 to Aug 18, 2023, for further investigation related to the case.

The victim has been referred to the Sultan Ismail Hospital in Johor Bahru for further treatment.

Previously, two video clips, each lasting 24 seconds and 32 seconds, were uploaded to Cikgu Suraya's Twitter page at 6.02pm on Saturday.

In the videos, several individuals believed to be neighbours in the housing area were seen gathering in front of the house, urging the young boy to come out.

Another video clip, lasting 32 seconds, shows the young boy with several injuries on his back believed to be resulted from abuse.

Both clips also circulated on the Layangkasa Facebook page, sparking various reactions from netizens.