Girl, 7, found wandering by roadside possibly raped, say Malaysian police; mum, stepfathers arrested
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IPOH, Malaysia – A seven-year-old girl found walking aimlessly on the side of a road in the district of Manjung in Perak on Monday is believed to be a rape victim.
Her mother, 29; the girl’s first stepfather, 40; and the mother’s current husband, 26, were arrested later on the same day.
Manjung acting police chief Chong Boo Khim said a man found the girl, who was dishevelled, walking along the road at 11.50am on Monday.
Mr Chong added that the man took her to a police station before officers took her to a hospital.
“The medical team that conducted checks... believed she was raped and abused. Checks on her body found old and new injuries,” he said on Tuesday.
Mr Chong added that a team from the criminal investigation division arrested the two men and the woman at about 9.30pm on Monday.
“The three have been remanded until April 23 for further investigation,” he said.
Mr Chong said that the case is being investigated under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act, which deals with neglect and abandonment of a child and provides a penalty of a maximum fine of RM50,000 (S$15,000), a jail term of up to 20 years, or both.
Police are also investigating the case under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, a provision on physical sexual assault on a child, which is punishable with imprisonment of up to 20 years, and also caning. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
