KOTA BARU: A nine-year-old boy was allegedly abused by his stepmother at their home in Kok Lanas while his father was away on a work trip in Kuala Lumpur.
His father, who works as a government servant, returned home on July 12 and discovered bruises on parts of his son's body.
Kota Baru police chief Assistant Commissioner Mohd Rosdi Daud said the stepmother was arrested yesterday to assist the police investigation into the case.
He said the father lodged a police report at about 3.45pm on July 18.
He said the man claimed that the abuse started on July 10 at their home in Taman Yik Perdana near Kok Lanas.
"In his report, the father claimed that he found his eldest son with some injuries and bruises on his head, arms and eyes when he arrived home about 3pm on July 12.
"His son told him that he had been beaten by his stepmother.
"The victim claimed that she had pushed him into the concrete wall of the house and kicked both his hands.
"The incident started on July 10, and the woman also locked him inside the bathroom for a night without giving him any food to eat.
"This continued until the victim's father returned home on July 12," he said in a statement.
The man, in his 30s, had been married to the suspect since August 2023.
He said the woman has been remanded for three days beginning today to assist its probe into the case.
The case is being investigated under Section 31 (1) (a) of Child Act 2001.