SEPANG: A 20-year old woman was arrested with her boyfriend on Monday on suspicion of suffocating her 18-month-old toddler after spending the night with her boyfriend at a condominium in Cyberjaya here on Jan 12.
It is understood that the suspect, who works as a clerk in a private company, is in the process of getting a divorce after nearly two years of marriage with an unemployed man.
Sepang district police chief, Assistant Commissioner Wan Kamarul Azran Wan Yusof, said in her initial statement, the woman claimed that the toddler had fallen from the sofa before being sent to the Cyberjaya Hospital for treatment.
"At about 11.30am, the doctor received an 18-month-old male toddler who was sent to the hospital in an unconscious state by his mother.
"From the initial examination, the doctor found that there was bleeding in both of the victim's eyes which was likely due to abuse and that the patient was in a critical condition," he said.
Wan Kamarul Azran said police received a report from the Cyberjaya Hospital medical team last Sunday after the child died after three days of treatment.
Immediately after receiving the report, police tried to contact the victim's mother, who is also the main suspect, but failed, and the woman was not at the given residential address.
"Police raided a flat in Putra Perdana, Dengkil, and arrested the suspect at about midnight on Jan 16. Her husband was also arrested the same day," he said.
The suspect admitted to covering the victim's face with a pillow while the child was sleeping, because she was under stress due to domestic problems.
"The results of the autopsy found injuries on the victim's cheeks, gums, forehead and the back of the right leg.
"In addition, there were scratches on the left cheek and bruises on the neck believed to be the result of strangulation.
"Death due to asphyxia or lack of oxygen is believed to have been caused by the woman's actions of covering the victim's face," he said.
Wan Kamarul Azran said the 20-year-old suspect's husband was released on police bail because he was not at the location when the incident occurred.
"The suspect's boyfriend, who is a 21-year-old college student, however, did not admit to being involved.
"He claimed that he only came to the residence that was turned into an inn to spend the night with the suspect, and had left when the incident happened," he said.
He said the suspect and her boyfriend have been remanded for seven days from Jan 16 to assist in investigations under Section 302 of the Penal Code.