Baby scalded on buttocks, believed to be abused by babysitter

A 10-month-old baby girl was scalded on the buttocks, believed to have been abused by her babysitter at a house in Bertam Hulu here.

Melaka Criminal Investigation Department Chief ACP Raja Shahrom Raja Abdullah said the mother, in her 30s, found out about the incident when she changed the baby's diapers after they arrived home at a nearby housing estate at 8.30 p.m. on Tuesday.

She said the baby did not stop crying when she was fetched from the babysitter's house together with her 10-year-old sister an hour earlier.

"The baby's parents initially did not suspect anything had happened to her until the mother saw the severe scald marks on both buttocks," he told Bernama when contacted here today.

He said the baby was then taken to a nearby clinic for treatment before being referred to Melaka Hospital for treatment there.

Raja Shahrom said the victim's father, in his 30s, lodged a report at the Tanjung Minyak police station on Wednesday before police detained the 30-year-old babysitter at her house at 2.40 p.m. on the same day to assist in the investigations.

He said the woman was released on police bail the next day and investigations were still going on.