KUCHING: The babysitter of missing four-year-old Eric Chang Wei Jie and her husband have had their remand in the murder investigation extended until March 31.

       Kuching police chief Asst Comm Ahsmon Bajah said the couple were being held at the Tabuan Jaya police station lock-up.

       They were arrested on March 9 and initially remanded until March 16 to be investigated for neglect or abandonment under the Child Act.

       Eric was reported missing from a house in Bintawa here on March 7.

       On March 13, however, police reclassified the case as murder after the babysitter told them that the boy's body had been dumped into the river at Muara Tebas near here.

       She and her husband were then remanded from March 17 until Thursday (March 24).

       Police also led a search operation for Eric's remains at the Muara Tebas area starting March 13 with assistance from the Fire and Rescue Department, including its canine unit, and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency.

       The search was called off on March 19 after finding no trace of the boy.