Crime & Courts

Senior citizen nabbed for alleged abuse of adopted child

KUALA LANGAT: A senior citizen was arrested at midnight today for allegedly abusing her 10-year-old adopted daughter.

The suspect, in her 60s, angry with the girl for repeatedly stealing money from her, dragged her by the hair on the road to teach her a lesson.

District police chief Superintendent Ahmad Ridhwan Mohd Nor @ Saleh said the suspect was detained at her Tanjong Sepat home at 12.10am by Criminal Investigation Department officers.

He said investigations began when the officer-in-charge of the Tanjong Sepat station lodged a report yesterday after receiving a 33-second video via WhatsApp on the incident from the public.

The video showed the suspect abusing the girl who had just returned from school and was in her white and green uniform.

"We have saved the child and she was sent to Banting Hospital for treatment. A medical officer confirmed that she sustained light injuries on her head.

"She is the suspect's legally adopted child. She is believed to have been living with the suspect since young. She is now under the care of the Welfare Department.

"In our preliminary investigations, the suspect revealed that the girl had stolen money from her several times. The reason she acted so was to deter the girl from stealing again," he said in a statement.

Ridhwan said the suspect was being probed under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001 for neglecting and exposing a child to danger.

The suspect, however, was not remanded due to her age and having high blood pressure.

She has no previous criminal records.

If found guilty, the suspect will face a maximum fine of RM20,000 or jail up to 10 years or both.

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