KUALA LUMPUR – Two children aged 4 and 7 are believed to have been abused by their babysitter in an incident in Seri Kembangan, as seen in a video that went viral on Tuesday.
Serdang district police chief A.A. Anbalagan said the suspect, a 24-year-old local woman, has been taking care of the children since March last year and is an acquaintance of the children’s mother – who is working in Singapore.
“Following the viral video, a police report was lodged by a complainant from a non-governmental organisation after receiving a public complaint about children being beaten at the suspect’s house,” he said in a statement yesterday.
After being told of the abuse, the children’s mother asked one of her friends to pick up her children with the help of the complainant, he said, adding that after rescuing them they noticed bruises and welts all over the children’s bodies.
He said the children were admitted to Klang’s Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital on the same day and discharged Thursday.
Anbalagan said the suspect was then detained and released on police bail, and that the investigation was still ongoing under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001.
He said the Selangor Social Welfare Department was also monitoring the case.
“Those with information about cases of violent crimes or abuse are asked to immediately lodge a report at a nearby police station,” he added. – Bernama, April 8, 2023
