KUALA LUMPUR: Police have asked the public to refrain from speculating on any investigations into the case of a girl who went missing in Johor, but has now been found.
Johor police chief Commissioner M. Kumar said news on the abduction of 6-year-old Albertine Leo Jia Hui, which had gone viral on social media, had caused significant distress to the girl's family due to the sharing of inaccurate information.
Leo was reported missing at around 8.30pm on Saturday from the Eco Galleria business centre in Iskandar Puteri. She was found safe today in Batang Kali, Selangor.
Kumar said the girl's family had been inundated with crank calls providing dubious information about their daughter's whereabouts.
"I urge the public to act responsibly and avoid making speculative comments that could interfere with the investigation.
"Since the case went viral, the victim's family has received numerous calls with incorrect information," he told the media at a press conference today.
He added that the police would take strict action against anyone who spread false information.
"We will take firm and uncompromising action against those spreading false information about this case with the intent to disrupt the victim's family and cause public alarm," he said.