KUALA TERENGGANU: Police yesterday detained two suspects after an abused seven-year-old boy was rescued from a rented house at a Gong Badak housing estate here on Monday evening.
“The suspects were detained at a low-cost house in Gong Badak about noon today(yesterday). One of them tested positive for methamphetamine,” State CID chief ACP K Manoharan told reporters.
“Two children who were found with the suspects also had traces of abuse on their bodies and we are waiting for the hospital report on the matter,” he added.
He said they received a report from the Social Welfare Department about 4.30pm yesterday and had to contact the owner to open the house which was rented out to a couple.
“We found the boy covered with bruises, swellings, infected wounds, puss and cigarette burns. He is warded at the Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital (HSNZ) intensive care unit and is in stable condition. Doctors have yet to determine if he has internal injuries,” he said.
“The victim was very weak and hungry. We believe he was confined without any food for several days,” he said.
Manoharan said the victim’s mother, step father and his siblings were not at home at the time of the rescue.
“Based on the information received by the Social Welfare Department and the extent of his injuries, we do not discount the possibility that the boy, who lost his father three years ago, was abused for a long time,” said Manoharan. — Bernama