CHUKAI: A man allegedly struck a 9-year-old boy who was accused of sodomy, causing injuries to the face and forehead.
Before the incident, a 6-year-old boy allegedly told his family that he was sodomised by the 9-year-old boy.
Kemaman police chief Superintendent Hanyan Ramlan said the family of the 6-year-old boy is believed to have summoned the 9-year-old to their home on Friday.
He said police received a report from the 9-year-old boy's sister at 5.45pm.
"The 9-year-old boy's sister said her brother told her that he was beaten and threatened by a neighbour's uncle at the neighbour's home.
"Following this report, police detained a 21-year-old man, a labourer, at 12.20am for further investigation."
He said the suspect had no criminal record and tested negative for drugs.
"At first, the suspect did not admit to hitting the 9-year-old boy. The suspect claimed he only scolded and put pepper in the boy's mouth.
"The 9-year-old boy was taken to Kemaman Hospital for treatment."
He said police also received a report from a 6-year-old child who claimed to have been molested around 9pm last night.
"We are conducting investigations. The case is being investigated under Sections 323 and 506 of the Penal Code and Section 14 of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017."