Neighbors rescue 7-year-old victim in disturbing Johor Bahru child abuse case

JOHOR, MALAYSIA: A young boy is suspected to have become a victim of abuse by two women, one of whom is believed to be his biological mother in a Layangkasa housing area residence in Pasir Gudang, Johor Bahru.

The incident involving the seven-year-old child finally came to light after neighbors in the housing area stormed the residence occupied by the two individuals.

The mother of the child in question is a 27-year-old single mother, while the other woman is her 30-year-old friend with a tomboyish appearance.

Persistent cries for the past two months

The neighbors reported that the child had not received any schooling and was frequently left locked in the house when the two women went to work.

Over the past two months, they grew suspicious upon hearing continuous cries and wails from the house.

Disturbed by the situation, they took it upon themselves to confront the two women living in the house.

However, upon being confronted, the two women denied the allegations of abuse and insisted that their actions were a method of disciplining the boy.

In an interview, the neighbors stated that they often heard the sound of a child crying and curses directed at the child.

“I left for dinner at approximately 9 PM, and I could already hear the abuse occurring. When I returned around midnight, the abuse was still ongoing,” reported a neighbor.

“We noticed wounds on his arms, and he was walking with a limp. So, when we examined his back, it was distressing because the wound appeared severe,” one man stated upon examining the boy for the first time.

On Saturday, at about 12:02 AM, a group of concerned neighbors made the decision to intervene and entered the residence to rescue the child who was believed to be a victim of abuse.

In the first video, the women were subjected to questioning by their neighbors, who later intervened to rescue the seven-year-old boy.

They were seen pleading not to be handed over to the authorities, but the crowd remained unyielding.

Both the group and online users alike were appalled by what they witnessed as they urged for the child to be brought out of the house.

A laceration-like wounds can be seen scattered all over the little boy’s back.

The video can be viewed here, viewer discretion is advised.

https://twitter.com/cikgusuraya_ch/status/1690304220707368960

Enraged response

Amidst the online community, many users are expressing their anger and frustration towards the two perpetrators.

One individual, driven by a desire for justice, (@cikgusuraya_ch) went a step further by tagging Yang Amat Mulia Che’ Puan Besar Khaleeda binti Bustamam, the consort of the Crown Prince of the Malaysian State of Johor, on her Twitter account, effectively bringing the situation to her attention.

CikguSuraya expressed in her post, “What kind of parents are you to abuse your child like this?!”

She added, “When your actions are exposed, you resort to tears and plea for a second chance.”

In response, YAM Che’ Puan Besar Khaleeda acknowledged the incident, expressing gratitude to those who participated in the rescue.

She concluded with guidance on addressing child abuse, stating in her post, “I have been informed about the incident involving a seven-year-old boy in Pasir Gudang, Johor.”

Saya terpanggil dan mengambil maklum berhubung penularan kes penderaan kanak-kanak yang berlaku di Pasir Gudang, Johor hari ini.

Saya difahamkan mangsa berusia 7 tahun itu berjaya diselamatkan oleh jiran-jiran setempat dan kanak-kanak berkenaan kini telah dibawa ke hospital… pic.twitter.com/NgYZm0xYUT

— YAM Che' Puan Mahkota Khaleeda Johor (@chepuankhaleeda) August 12, 2023

“I have instructed the authorities to take stern action and save the victim from further perils. I thank the local community for their concerns and swift action to protect the child.”

“This further proves that a strong and united community can play a huge part in safeguarding children in this country,” she concluded.

Furthermore, CikguSuraya also contacted the Minister of Women, Family, and Community Development of Malaysia, Nancy Shukri, regarding the matter.

Johor Police Chief confirms arrest of the mother and another suspect in child abuse case

In response, she highlighted that the suspects had already been apprehended by the police, expressing gratitude for the involvement of those concerned and applauding the neighbors for their proactive engagement.

Johor Police Chief Datuk Kamarul Zaman Mamat confirmed that a team from the Seri Alam District Police Headquarters (IPD) arrested the 27-year-old local mother of the victim and the 30-year-old foreign woman around 12:30 AM on last Friday.

Following their investigation, the police determined that both suspects had no prior criminal records. The case is being examined under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001.

“If convicted, the offense can be punished with imprisonment of not more than 20 years or a fine not exceeding RM50,000 or both,” he said in a statement on Saturday (12 Aug).

He also mentioned that the victim’s mother, a homemaker, is presently under remand as per Section 117 of the Criminal Procedure Code for a period of six days, from 12 to 17 August.

Furthermore, he added that the foreign woman, employed as a factory technician and residing in the same house, is in custody for seven days, spanning from 12 to 18 August to facilitate further investigation into the case.

The victim has been directed to Sultan Ismail Hospital in Johor Bahru for extended medical care.