KUALA LUMPUR: A 30-year-old man has been arrested for physically assaulting his stepson aged five in Seri Muda, Shah Alam, as seen in a video which had gone viral on Whatsapp.
Shah Alam deputy police chief Superintendent Ramsay Embol said the suspect, who worked as a lorry driver, was detained early Saturday morning (March 12 at 12.30am) after surrendering himself at the Crime Investigation Department.
The suspect was apprehended by investigating officers after the boy's 25-year-old mother lodged a police report yesterday that the suspect had beaten her son.
The couple had been married for a month.
"The police report was made by the mother before the video was circulated. Our observation of the video found the suspect had not only scolded the boy, but also slapped and twisted his arms.
"The video showed the mother hugging the boy to protect him from further beatings by the suspect.
"Our probe so far found that the incident happened as the boy had claimed that the suspect had hit him. However, the suspect denied doing so. It angered the suspect and he slapped the boy.
"There were no visible injuries on both the boy and mother. However, the boy has been referred to the hospital for treatment," said Ramsay tonight.
Ramsay added that the suspect had been remanded for three days from today and investigations under Section 31(1) of the Child Act 2001 for ill treatment, neglect, abandonment or exposure of children are underway.