Police Confirm Signs Of Abuse In Toddler’s Death

KUALA TERENGGANU, Aug 11 (Bernama) -- Police have confirmed clear signs of abuse in the death of a  23-month-old boy in Kampung Banggol, Manir here last Saturday.

Terengganu police chief Datuk Mohd Khairi Khairuddin said the post-mortem revealed bleeding in the head and bruises all over the victim’s body.

He said the boy’s biological father and stepmother, along with a doctor and nurse from Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital (HSNZ), have given their statements. The incident occurred inside the home, where only the victim, the suspects, and the victim’s three-year-old brother were present.

“Investigations found the suspects, who have been married for six months and keep to themselves, were linked to the case,” he said after the handover of duty ceremony to Terengganu’s new deputy police chief, SAC Suffian Sulaiman, formerly chief of the Kuala Lumpur Police Headquarters Management Department.

Mohd Khairi said police are awaiting the victim’s full medical report before submitting the investigation papers to the deputy public prosecutor.

A health check on the victim’s brother, now under the Social Welfare Department’s care, found no signs of abuse.

The father, 27, and stepmother, 30, have been remanded for seven days under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001.

-- BERNAMA