Three-year-old girl suspected victim of abuse by mother, stepfather

A three-year-old girl here is believed to have been abused by her mother and stepfather, according to police.

Ipoh Police chief ACP Sum Chang Keong said police received a report on the case at 11.21 am last Friday from the Perak Community Specialist Hospital in Jalan Kampar here.

"The mother and the victim’s two siblings arrived at the hospital to be examined for suspected Influenza A, and the victim was with them.

“An examination revealed that the victim did not suffer from Influenza A but the doctor suspected that she had been abused,” he told reporters after attending the Ipoh Police headquarters monthly gathering at the Pasir Puteh Police Station here today.

Sum said that after being questioned, the mother confessed that she and her 20-year-old husband had beaten the victim with their hands and clothes hangers because the girl was too active.

“The injuries suffered by the victim are not serious, just scratch marks. All of them, including the victim’s four-month-old younger brother and four-year-old sister, have been transferred to the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital,” he said.

Sum said no statement was recorded from the victim and her mother as both were still unfit to provide details.

“However, we understand that the stepfather who works in Penang will give a statement today,” he said, adding that the case was being investigated under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001.

-- BERNAMA