PONTIAN: An eight-month-old baby boy has been placed in an induced coma in the intensive care unit at Pontian Hospital, here, after allegedly being abused by his mother and her boyfriend.
Pontian district police chief Superintendent Mohammad Shofee Tayib, said the police received a report from a medical officer at Pontian Hospital regarding the baby's condition at approximately 9.15am yesterday.
He said before being taken to Pontian Hospital, the baby was brought to a private clinic in the city.
"When transported from the private clinic to the hospital, the baby was unconscious.
"The baby was transferred to Sultanah Aminah Hospital (HSA) in Johor Bahru, where a pediatric specialist determined the baby's unconsciousness resulted from a brain haemorrhage.
"In addition, the baby also suffered from oxygen deprivation and had injuries on his forehead and bruises around his eyes, suspected to be a result of abuse," he said in a statement today.
Meanwhile, Shofee said that the baby has been placed in an induced coma due to respiratory issues.
"Following this, the baby's 26-year-old mother was arrested at HSA Johor Bahru, while her 24-year-old boyfriend surrendered himself at the Pontian District Police Headquarters (IPD) yesterday.
"Both of them are unemployed and have been remanded for seven days starting today for further investigation," he said.
He said the case is being investigated under the Child Act 2001, which carries a maximum fine of RM50,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 20 years or both if convicted.