Runaway boy reveals abuse from biological father, stepmother

JEMPOL - A husband and wife were arrested by police after they were suspected of abusing their six-year-old son in an incident at Bahau on Tuesday.

The incident was revealed after the victim who was the oldest of four siblings ran away from their home after no longer being able to bear the abuse by the couple who was his biological father and stepmother.

Jempol district police chief Superintendent Hoo Chang Hook said he received the information on the incident at 2.30pm before the boy was saved by the police.

"There were cuts on the victim's body and he was brought to the Jempol Hospital for further treatments.

"Early investigations found the victim was abused since March, where the victim was beaten by his stepmother and biological father using their hands, a wooden ladle, he was also kicked and caned," he said in a statement on Wednesday.

Hoo said the victim was receiving further treatments at the Kuala Pilah Tuanku Ampuan Najihah Hospital (HTAN) and was confirmed by doctors to have several injuries.

"Based on investigations the other three siblings weren't hurt, it was only the victim," he said.

He said the quick actions based on the information had both the 27-year-old and 31-year-old arrested on the same day.

He said the man remanded worked in a wood factory while his wife who was a housewife was remanded for seven days to aid investigations.

"The case was investigated according to Section 31(1) (a) of the Child Act 2001, if found guilty both could be fined not more than RM50,000 with a prison sentence of not more than 20 years or both," he said.