Toddler dies; father, stepmother held over suspected abuse
Kuala Terengganu district police chief Assistant Commissioner Azli Mohd Noor said that at about 1am last Wednesday, the complainant, a medical officer on duty in the hospital's Red Zone, received the victim, who was unconscious.
He said that upon examination, bruises were found on the victim's body, face and neck.
He added that the victim, who was the youngest of two siblings, could already walk and was very active.
The victim also had a three-year-old elder brother.
"Previously, both suspects, the victim's 27-year-old biological father, who works as a labourer and the victim's 30-year-old stepmother who is a housewife, admitted to hitting the victim on the calves with a black clothes hanger.
"There were both fresh and old marks on the baby's calves," he said.
Azli said that at about 11pm on Aug 5, the victim was believed to have climbed over a gate blocking the bedroom door and fallen.
He added that at the time, the victim's father and stepmother were at home, after which they picked her up and applied ice to her forehead to reduce the swelling.
The victim then became active again as usual, he said.
He said that at 8.30am on Aug 6, the victim appeared to be in good condition and her father left the house, leaving his wife with their two children.
"At about 11am, the victim's father returned home and saw the victim sleeping. He did not suspect anything as she appeared to be asleep.
At 12 noon, the victim's father tried to wake her to feed her milk and moved her body, but found that her body was limp.
"Fearing that his baby might be having a seizure, the victim's stepmother massaged the so-called seizure nerve on the victim's neck," he said.
Azli said that despite the massage, the victim still showed no response and the excessive pressure left bruising on her neck.
He added that the victim's father then took her to the Manir health clinic for medical assistance, after which she was referred to the hospital.
He said that an examination by the medical officer (the complainant) confirmed the victim had sustained multiple bruises, abrasions and brain injuries, which were believed not to have been caused by an accident.
He added that police later went to the scene with the forensic unit from the Terengganu police contingent headquarters and seized a black clothes hanger.
"The victim was confirmed dead at about 2.05pm yesterday at HSNZ, and the post-mortem revealed that she died from bleeding in the head caused by blunt force trauma.
"The case is being investigated under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001.
"The victim's biological father and stepmother have been remanded for seven days starting today.
"The suspects' three-year-old child has been placed under the temporary care of the Social Welfare Department," he said.
He said both suspects were arrested at about 9pm yesterday at the Funeral Management Centre, Jalan Pantai, Rhu Muda, Marang, after completing the funeral arrangements for their baby.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
17 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Committee proposes quick reforms to criminal laws, including ending mandatory whipping
KUALA LUMPUR: The Criminal Law Reform Committee (CLRC) has proposed several immediate reforms, or "quick wins," while carrying out a full review of the Penal Code, Criminal Procedure Code and Evidence Act 1950. Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said these include abolishing mandatory whipping by giving judges discretion in sentencing, improving remand procedures and expanding the use of community service orders for minor offences as an alternative to imprisonment. These quick win reforms also include strengthening the e-plea of guilty system, improving pre-trial document disclosure procedures, and introducing fixed timelines for bail decision-making to ensure fairness. "The CLRC also has a special mandate to review proposed amendments to Section 97 of the Child Act 2001 following the abolition of mandatory death and life imprisonment sentences under Act 846. "It will also look into consequential amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code, the moratorium on the death penalty, the introduction of Deferred Prosecution Agreements, and matters involving cybercrime and national security offences," she told the Dewan Rakyat Special Chambers today. She said the CLRC is chaired by Tan Sri Datuk Harmindar Singh Dhaliwal, former Federal Court judge, with Datuk Ravinthran N. Paramaguru, Court of Appeal judge, serving as Deputy Chair. The committee also includes judges, legal practitioners, academics specialising in criminal law, and representatives from the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam). To strengthen the review process, an ad hoc CLRC panel was also formed to provide ongoing technical and strategic input, supported by four subcommittees led by senior figures from the judiciary and legal profession. She said the CLRC had also engaged stakeholders, including the police, the Prison Department, the Social Welfare Department, the Registrar of the Federal Court's Office, the Home Ministry, and Suhakam, as well as holding town hall sessions in Sabah and Sarawak to gather feedback on specific issues and proposed quick-win reforms. She also said collaboration with Universiti Malaya, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Universiti Teknologi Mara and Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia was undertaken to ensure that the review and recommendations are based on sound academic research and strong empirical evidence. Azalina said the reforms were in line with the government's Madani aspiration to ensure the criminal justice system meets the needs of modern society, improves the protection of human rights, speeds up judicial processes with more efficient and transparent procedures, and aligns with international standards. "The government is optimistic that this reform initiative will result in a more progressive, fair and efficient criminal justice system that is grounded in human rights and societal needs," she said.
New Straits Times
19 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Nanny charged with slapping 11-month-old baby in Batu Pahat
BATU PAHAT: A 58-year-old nanny was charged in the Sessions Court here today with physically abusing an 11-month-old girl under her care by slapping the child's cheek, leaving it bruised. Ng Lee Fhung, who was found not fluent in Bahasa Malaysia, did not have her plea recorded when the charge was read before judge Osman Affendi Mohd Shalleh. She was accused of causing physical injury to the infant at a house in Taman Setia Jaya between 9am and 6pm on Aug 6. The charge, framed under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, carries a penalty of up to 20 years' jail, a fine of up to RM50,000, or both, upon conviction. Deputy public prosecutor Sharifah Natasha Syed Ahmad prosecuted, while Ng was represented by lawyer Nurul Nadia Yunus. The prosecution sought a later mention date and proposed bail of RM15,000 with conditions. The court fixed Sept 22 for the presence of an interpreter and allowed bail of RM8,000 with one surety. Ng was ordered to the nearest police station on the first day of every month, surrender her passport to the court, and refrain from contacting prosecution witnesses. According to the case facts, police were alerted by hospital staff after the baby was found to have a bruise on her cheek. Investigations revealed the accused, a neighbour of the victim's family, had been asked to care for the child three days prior to the incident. She allegedly slapped the infant when the child would not stop crying.
The Star
a day ago
- The Star
QuickCheck: Did an undergrad lose nearly RM190,000 to a phone scam syndicate?
THE use of eWallets is on the rise with many embracing these mobile applications for convenience and to avoid carrying around large sums of cash. However, as the popularity of eWallets continues to grow, avenues for scams are also increasing. A university student in Kuala Terengganu is reported to have become a victim to such a scam, after being told she was involved in money-laundering and drug-trafficking. Is it true that a university student was cheated out of nearly RM190,000 by a phone scam syndicate? VERDICT: TRUE Kuala Terengganu OCPD Asst Comm Azli Mohd Noor confirmed the incident, telling Bernama that the female student at a public university had lost RM187,800 after being conned by a phone scam syndicate posing as a Touch'nGo representative. He said that on Aug 4, the 26-year-old victim received a call from a suspect claiming she had misused the application and was involved in money laundering and drug trafficking. He said the suspect then instructed the victim to make several payments via bank transfers for investigation purposes and to clear her name. "The panicked and frightened victim made eight payments to six different accounts between Aug 4 and 9 using her own savings and money from her parents' account, which she took without their knowledge. "In addition, the victim also handed over three bracelets, five rings and a pendant belonging to her and her mother to a female suspect by the roadside at Pantai Penarik, Setiu, on Aug 9," he said in a statement Tuesday (Aug 12). ACP Azli said the victim, upon realising she had been cheated, lodged a police report at 9.43pm Monday (Aug 11). However, the victim could not identify or provide a detailed description of the female suspect she met, as the individual was wearing a face mask. "I urge the public not to be gullible and to instead use the 'Semak Mule' application to verify the phone numbers and bank accounts provided by suspects. "They can also contact the National Scam Response Centre hotline at 997 to obtain verification before making any transfers to third-party accounts," he added. - Bernama
