MELAKA: A 12-year-old girl was found traumatised and in her underwear in a bush near her school in Melaka Tengah yesterday after allegedly being molested by an unidentified man.
The victim was discovered at about 7pm, lying in the undergrowth and crying, following a search that began when she failed to attend an afternoon extra class.
It is believed that a teacher noticed her absence after regular school hours ended at 1.05pm.
"Teachers initially searched the school grounds before checking closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage, which showed the pupil leaving the premises around noon.
"The victim later explained that she had left the school compound after spotting a car she thought belonged to her mother," a source said.
However, upon approaching the vehicle, she realised the driver was a stranger.
Frightened, she attempted to flee when the man began chasing her, leading her to hide in the nearby bushes.
The suspect managed to locate her and ordered her to strip, leaving her in only her undergarments.
"The victim alleged that the suspect touched her cheek and took several photos of her using a mobile phone before fleeing, leaving her behind in a state of terror," the source added.
Family members, who had been searching for the girl after her brother arrived to pick her up and found her missing, discovered her seven hours later.
She was immediately taken to Melaka Hospital for a medical examination.
Melaka police chief Datuk Dzulkhairi Mukhtar confirmed the incident and said investigations are being conducted under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017.
Reports of the girl's disappearance had gone viral on social media earlier yesterday after her family appealed for help in locating her. - NST
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.