IPOH: A 10-year-old Orang Asli girl, who was found dead in a swampy area in Kampung Bersah, Pos Kuala Mu, has been confirmed to have been raped before her murder.
Sungai Siput police chief Supt. Mohd Khaizam Ahmad Shahabudin said that the case had been reclassified under Section 302 of the Penal Code, following the autopsy results received at 4pm today.
The results revealed neck injuries and signs of genital trauma.
According to Khaizam, the police have detained a 27-year-old man, related to the victim, and a 17-year-old teen who lives in the same village.
Several others have also been called to give statements to aid in the police investigation.
The girl, who had been reported missing since Friday, was discovered at 4.20pm on Saturday in the swampy area of her village.
Earlier, Mohd Khaizam said a missing person report was received from the chairman of the Orang Asli Village Development and Security Committee (JPKKOA) at about 1.20am on Saturday, after she failed to return home since Friday afternoon.
Following this, a search and rescue (SAR) operation was launched early Saturday (Aug 18) morning, involving the police K9 unit, local agencies, and residents.
"The search began within a 2-kilometre radius and the victim was found by a member of the public participating in the search at around 4.20pm," he said.
The victim was found lying in a swampy area near the village, about 50 to 100 metres from the last house in the village.
Mohd Khaizam said that before going missing, the victim was reportedly heading to a store alone around 3pm on the day she disappeared to buy chicken.
She returned empty-handed because the store had run out of chicken, and her uncle went to another store to buy chicken while she stayed behind to play at a nearby playground.