SEREMBAN: A post mortem on the remains of a 15-month-old toddler found dead at a childcare centre here, revealed her death was due to compression of the neck.

       Seremban OCPD Asst Comm Nanda Maarof noted investigations were ongoing and 18 individuals had been identified as witnesses.

       "A post mortem conducted at the Tuanku Ja'afar Hospital for more than three hours on Wednesday (Feb 23) found that the cause of death was neck compression.

       "We will continue with the probe and forward the investigation papers to the deputy public prosecutor's office," he said in a statement.

       He said among those who would be called in to assist in the probe include the operator of the centre, babysitters and parents.

       Asked if the centre was registered with the Welfare Department, he said investigations showed that it was not.

       The case is being probed under Section 31 (1)(a) of the Child Act 2001.

       On Tuesday (Feb 22), a babysitter, who had fed the victim milk and put her to bed in a room, found her head dangling from the cloth cradle when she went to check on her an hour later.

       She then tried to resuscitate the victim but to no avail.

       The toddler was rushed to the Sendayan health clinic and four doctors tried but failed to revive her.

       There were 15 children, including the deceased, all aged between six months and seven years old at the centre when the incident happened.

       There were two babysitters, aged 27 and 39 at the centre, which has been operating from a single-storey corner unit since the end of 2019. The centre, however, was not equipped with any CCTV system.