TAWAU: Police arrested an unmarried couple in Kampung Kausing here, on Thursday night, on suspicion of neglecing and abusing their 8-month-old baby girl.
The 42-year-old male suspect, who is a farm labourer, was arrested along with his 21-year-old partner at 7.30pm to assist in a police investigation.
Both are believed to be illegal immigrants.
"On Feb 8, a Tawau Hospital medical officer reported that a baby was admitted to the ward after receiving initial treatment at the Tawau Hospital Emergency Department, and a CT Scan was performed.
"It was found that part of the baby's brain was bleeding and swollen. The victim's parents said that the victim had fallen from the cradle in January, due to being rocked too hard and fast by the baby's mother," Tawau police chief Assistant Commissioner Peter Umbuas said in a statement.
The victim, who also suffered serious injuries to several parts of her body and experienced an intestinal tract infection in November last year, is currently being treated at the Tawau Hospital's ICU Pediatric Unit.
"The baby, who was born prematurely in June last year, is now being closely monitored and undergoing treatment with respirator and inotrope assistance," he added.
Peter said that the two suspects are believed to have deliberately neglected the victim by not taking her for further treatment after she purportedly fell from the cradle.
He added that the couple has been living together since Dec 2019 and are believed to be illegal immigrants. Further investigations are still underway, including to determine citizenship, as they did not have identity documents when detained.
He said the couple was remanded until Feb 18. - BERNAMA