JOHOR BARU: Police have arrested five people, including a couple, for abusing two young boys under their care.
Iskandar Puteri OCPD Asst Comm Dzulkhairi Mukhtar said the husband and wife were babysitters to the children.
He said the couple, aged 32 and 24, were arrested on Wednesday and were remanded until Oct 12 to help in investigations.
The latest detention came on top of the arrests of three other people – two women and a man.
The two women, B. Mariamah, 60, and her daughter R. Deeba, 37, were charged at a Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.
ACP Dzulkhairi said the mother and daughter pleaded not guilty to the charge under Section 31(1)(1) of the Child Act 2001.
“The court allowed bail of RM15,000 for each of the accused.
“However, they failed to raise the money and are now being held at the Skudai lock-up,” he said, adding that the court has set Nov 24 for mention as well as submission of documents.
He said both women are jobless.
The fifth and remaining suspect, Deeba’s boyfriend who works as a security guard, has been released on bond and will be a witness for the case, said ACP Dzulkhairi.
“The two victims are still undergoing medical treatment at Hospital Sultanah Aminah and will be referred to the Welfare Department after this,” he said.
The two boys, aged six and 11, had returned home last Thursday with wounds and bruises.
They later told their mother, who is a single mum, that they had been hit with a cane and pipe, tied with a rope, splashed with hot water and injured with cigarette butts on various parts of their bodies during their stay at the babysitters’ house in Taman Selesa Jaya, Skudai, here.
Restaurant helper M. Vikneswari, 30, said her sons started staying with the babysitters in April for a monthly fee of RM800.
“Since April, I have only met my children three times,” she said, adding that this was partly due to work and what she claimed were excuses given by the babysitters.
“After discussing the matter with my boss, I was advised to make a police report,” she added.