ALOR STAR: Police have arrested a 33-year-old man for allegedly abusing his two young stepdaughters here.
Kota Setar police chief Assistant Commissioner Ahmad Shukri Mat Akhir said the man was picked up at his house this afternoon.
"He was detained at his home in Jalan Sungai Petani, Alor Star at about 3.30pm. He tested positive for methamphetamine," he said in a statement.
It was reported earlier police had launched an investigation into the case after a Welfare Department officer took the girls aged 6 and 8 to lodge a report on Wednesday.
The report was lodged after the elder sister's teacher spotted bruises on the victim's face and other parts of her body on Tuesday morning.
School administrators alerted the Welfare Department officer, who took the victims to lodge a police report.
The girls were subsequently referred to the Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital for medical examination, accompanied by police and the welfare officer.
Shukri was quoted as saying the medical officer who carried out the examination found that one sister suffered a cut on her head and swelling on her cheeks. The victim also claimed that her stepfather had kicked her in the back.
He added that the victim's sister had an old bruise mark on her forehead, suggesting that she was also beaten up. The siblings were subsequently admitted to the hospital for further observation.
The case has been classified under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001.