Melaka cops nab man suspected of sexually assaulting 10 boys

 The 36-year-old trader is believed to have approached his victims at the playground or after prayers at the surau.

Melaka police chief Dzulkhairi Mukhtar said the suspect was apprehended by members of the public yesterday evening before he was handed over to police. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA:

Melaka police have arrested a man suspected of sexually assaulting 10 boys as young as eight in Duyong and Telok Mas.

Melaka police chief Dzulkhairi Mukhtar said the 36-year-old trader was caught by members of the public at the Taman Desa Duyong community hall at about 6pm yesterday and handed over to police.

He said a preliminary investigation found that the man is suspected of assaulting 10 boys aged between eight and 13 from March until this month.

Eight of the victims were believed to have been assaulted at a playground in Duyong.

“The suspect is believed to have approached his victims at the playground or after prayers at the surau, later assaulting them,” Berita Harian reported him as saying.

Dzulkhairi said one of the cases involved a 13-year-old victim who had known the suspect since last year and frequently met him at the playground and surau.

Another case involved an 11-year-old boy whom the suspect is believed to have assaulted several times early this month.

He said the suspect has been remanded for seven days to assist in the investigation under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017. - FMT