KUANTAN: The uncle of a Standard Four pupil who died from alleged child abuse, has express his shock.
Mohd Asyraf Mohd Jasni, 29, from Banting, Selangor, said he spoke to his aunt (the victim’s mother) and she told him that everyone including her two children were in good health.
Asyraf said he did not suspect anything when he contacted the family on Sunday night.
He said his 30-year-old uncle worked as a Grab driver and was in Klang, Selangor, when Muhammad Lithhakim Abdullah, 10, fainted and died on Monday.
“My uncle was working and he was scheduled to return to Kuantan on Wednesday. We were informed about Lithhakim’s death on Monday evening.
“We told our relatives and then both of us rushed to Kuantan. The news about my nephew’s death has been a major shock to the family,” he said when met at HTAA today.
Lithhakim was found with bruises on his ankle, body and waist, and burn marks near his genitals.
State Criminal Investigation Department chief Senior Assistant Commissioner Othman Nanyan said that the post-mortem revealed that Lithhakim died due to bleeding in the esophagus.
“The ruptured blood vessels or ulcers in the esophagus could be result of stress or force trauma. “There were also fresh and old scars on the victim’s head and body which could be due to being abused.”
Lithhakim, 10, is the elder of two children. The family was staying at Taman Permatang Badak Maju, near here.
Police arrested the boy’s 29-year-old mother to facilitate investigation after doctors at the hospital alerted the police after discovering the bruises.
“The victim’s mother was previously detained for allegedly abusing him in 2016, but was later released due to lack of evidence,” a source said.
Pahang police chief Datuk Seri Rosli Ab Rahman said paramedics were sent to the boy’s house at noon on Monday after the mother informed hospital authorities that her son had fainted and required immediate medical attention.
“The medical team arrived at the house and performed CPR on the boy before rushing him to HTAA for further checks,” he said.
“Doctors lodged a police report after discovering severe bruises on the victim.
“Police have remanded the victim’s parents to facilitate investigations and we will record statements from others.”
A neighbour told reporters today that the family of four had mostly kept to themselves and were considered reclusive.
She said the family was quiet and had moved into their single-storey house in April.
“I had never seen the victim’s mother until police came to the house to arrest her on Monday evening.
“I have never even met the victim.
“Occasionally, I see the father and a younger boy but they never greeted or spoke to anyone.”
She said the victim’s family had surprised the neighbours when they moved into their rented unit at night.
“Since it was already late at night, my husband offered to help them carry their furniture, but they did not speak to him.
“They were not friendly and we did not want to disturb them.
“I was informed that the husband worked as a salesman, while the wife was a babysitter. Even today some of the parents came to send their children and were shocked when they were informed that the caretaker was in police custody,” she said.
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