KUCHING: The disappearance of four-year-old Eric Chang has taken an unexpected turn with police confirming that two of the four suspects arrested are his parents.

       Police said they were arrested on Thursday (March 10) to assist in the investigation.

       Prior to that, police also arrested the babysitter and her husband.

       "The suspects, aged between 24 and 49, will be investigated under Section 31(1) of the Child Act 2001 for ill-treatment, neglect, abandonment or exposure of children," district police chief Asst Comm Ahsmon Bajah said in a statement on Saturday (March 12).

       "We also found that all four suspects have criminal records and tested positive for drugs (syabu)," Borneo Post quoted him as saying.

       ACP Ahsmon said the suspects had a cumulative 17 drug offences, two property crimes and one commercial crime.

       He said police had also formed a special task force to find Eric, who went missing at around 9am on March 7 from the babysitter's house at Taman Riverview, Bintawa.

       The mother lodged a police report at 7.42pm the same day.

       "All the suspects will be brought to the Magistrate's Court here to apply for a remand order today (Saturday)," added ACP Ahsmon.

       Those with information on Eric's whereabouts can call Insp Hasmah Abdul Jalil at 013-685 2210.