GEORGE TOWN: The man, wanted by police for allegedly pouring hot water on his daughter, has been arrested today.
Police said the 41-year-old and his 34-year-old wife were picked up in front of a durian shop in Jalan Paya Terubong this morning.
Northeast district police chief Assistant Commissioner Che Zaimani Che Awang said acting on a tip-off, a team of policemen went to arrest the couple there about 10am.
“We will apply for a remand order for the couple tomorrow before questioning them,” he said this evening.
The case is investigated under Section 13 (1)(a) of the Child Act 2001.
It was initially reported that the man had scalded his daughter after accusing the girl of stealing RM10 from her mother in their Kampung Melayu flat here last week.
Following investigation, it was found that the man had acted violently towards his own child because his four children, aged between three and nine, including the victim, had finished all the food prepared by his wife.
Soon after the incident, the man and his wife fled from home with their youngest child.
The victim, who is still being treated at the Penang Hospital, is now under the care of the Welfare Department.
Her two other siblings are under the care of relatives.
Earlier this week, police had called for the suspect to surrender himself to police.