Boy, 5, found abused during Penang drugs swoop

The 5-year-old boy with bruises on his body, believed to be a victim of child abuse.

GEORGE TOWN: A five-year-old boy with bruises all over his body was found during a police swoop on a shophouse in Jelutong.

Authorities believe the boy has been abused by his mother and her 37-year-old boyfriend, who were detained during an anti-narcotics operation.

The child was rushed to the Penang Hospital for treatment. Doctors found bruises on his left cheek, chest, arms, left leg as well as scarring on his genital.

An X-ray scan found no broken bones and his condition is reported to be stable.

“The young boy has not told us why he was beaten up. He told us ‘daddy’ and his mother had beaten him up,” said north-east district police chief Che Zaimani Che Awang.

Zaimani said the couple had tested positive for methamphetamine, adding that the man had 12 criminal records since 2000, including rape, assault and drug abuse.

The case is being investigated under Section 31 of the Child Act 2001 for child abuse, which carries a maximum 10 years’ jail or RM20,000 fine. - FMT