RAWANG: Police have arrested three men and three women after the post-mortem examination on the body of a 5-year-old girl found that she had died of injuries sustained from physical abuse.
The case was initially classified as "sudden death" after the girl's grandaunt reported that she had found the girl unconscious at their home in Kampung Sungai Chinchin at 7pm on Dec 30.
However, the post-mortem examination the following day revealed that her intestines had ruptured as a result of a blow or several blows, believed to be kicks and the case was reclassified as murder.
Gombak police chief Assistant Commissioner Arifai Tarawe said the girl had been living with her grandaunt, a 55-year-old Indonesian, since 2017.
"The victim's family initially claimed that the victim suffered from abdominal pain and vomiting before being found unconscious in the living room and refused to allow a post-mortem examination to be performed.
"Based on the results of the post-mortem examination, police arrested three men and three women aged 25 to 55, including the main suspect.
"Further examinations also found traces of old scars on the victim's body which were believed to be from burnt mosquito coil," he told reporters.
He said police believe the abuse stemmed from frustration as the girl was unable to walk and any sort of movement had to be aided, plus she could not control her bowel movements.
"The victim also has a record of excess fluids in the brain besides having undergone a surgery. She was, however, able to speak well.
"The victim's father, who lived with the victim, was unaware of the incident as he was often away from home as he works as a lorry driver," he said.
He said all of the suspects were arrested on Jan 1 and remanded until Jan 7 to facilitate further investigations.