JOHOR BARU: A man and his maid have been arrested for the abuse and murder of a 3-year-old boy left in their care in Skudai yesterday.
Johor police chief Datuk Kamarul Zaman Mamat said the victim's father, who was informed about his son's passing while at work, rushed home and felt something was amiss about his son's death.
"The father lodged a police report about his concerns and a police team arrested the 28-year-old and his 40-year-old maid at the man's residence in Skudai, here.
"The suspect, who is a businessman, was hired by the boy's father to look after his two children, since his wife was also working in Batu Pahat," he said.
Kamarul Zaman said the boy's father, who worked in Singapore, had left the children – the victim and his year-old sister – under the care of his friend and the friend's and paid them RM2,800 monthly.
"A preliminary examination of the boy's body found bruises. The child's body will undergo a post-mortem examination tomorrow to find out the cause of his death," he told reporters in front of the suspect's house, here, today.
He said police have also taken closed-circuit televion footage from the suspect's house and seized some items for further investigation.
"Checks showed that the suspect also has a criminal record. The case is being investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder," he said.
Kamarul Zaman said police will apply for a remand order against both suspects tomorrow.