Mum and beau nabbed after boy with ‘extensive tissue injury’ dies

SERDANG: A 44-year-old woman and her boyfriend lodged a police report claiming that her five-year-old son had been run over by a lorry.

But they have now been detained over suspected abuse that led to the child’s death, while also testing positive for drug use.

Serdang OCPD Asst Comm AA Anbalagan said the boy was sent to Hospital Serdang for treatment at about 12.50am on Aug 22.

“He was unconscious when he arrived at the hospital. Despite administering CPR, the medical personnel could not revive him and he died.

“Medical personnel were initially told that the victim had been hit by a vehicle,” he said in a statement yesterday.

However, further checks revealed several bruises and old wounds on the boy’s body, believed to be signs of abuse, he added.

“Upon questioning the mother and her boyfriend, we found that they had lodged a false police report stating that the boy was run over by a lorry,” he said.

ACP Anbalagan said the mother and her 29-year-old boyfriend from Taman Puncak Jalil were detained on the same day.

“Investigations showed that they have been in a relationship since her husband died last year.

“Both suspects tested positive for methamphetamine and amphetamine. They are being remanded until Tuesday,” he said.

The post-mortem revealed extensive soft tissue injury to the boy from multiple counts of blunt force trauma, he said.

“We are still investigating the matter,” he added.

Meanwhile, BK reported Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri as saying that a seven-year-old boy who was allegedly abused by his mother and her friend in Pasir Gudang, Johor, early this month, had been placed under the care of his aunt.

The assessment by the Social Welfare Department found that his aunt is eligible to take up the responsibility as she is the victim’s closest family member.

“However, throughout the caregiving period, the department will monitor and check on the boy as he is still traumatised.

“We have provided rehabilitative treatment to the victim to help restore his confidence,” she told reporters after officiating at the Young Women Leaders Forum organised by the Women’s Institute of Management yesterday.

On Aug 16, a single mother and her female friend pleaded not guilty at the Johor Baru Sessions Court to abusing and neglecting the boy.