By Karen Bong
KUCHING, Oct 10: Sarawak Commissioner of Police Datuk Mohamad Zainal Abdullah has condemned the alleged abuse of a three-year-old girl in Kampung Rampangi, Santubong as “an act of sheer cruelty,” assuring that police are conducting a thorough investigation to ensure justice is served for the young victim.
Speaking after officiating the Sarawak Police Contingent’s monthly assembly today, Mohamad Zainal said police have solved the case within 24 hours and arrested a 32-year-old local man yesterday (Oct 9) in Kampung Krian, Jalan Padawan, in connection with the child’s death.
“Based on our initial investigation, there was a confession from the suspect, and we also have witnesses at the scene, including the mother of the victim,” he revealed.
He said police are leaving no stone unturned in the investigation and will bring the suspect to justice once sufficient evidence is obtained.
“We will make sure the investigation is conducted thoroughly. A three-year-old child being beaten in such a manner is an extremely cruel act,” he stressed.
The suspect, who tested positive for drug use, was the only person arrested so far, and police have applied for a remand order this morning.
“For now, we have only recorded the mother’s statement. There is no need yet to detain her,” he added.
Mohamad Zainal further disclosed that investigators believe there may be some form of relationship between the suspect and the victim’s mother, but the exact nature of their connection has yet to be determined.
“We believe there might be a relationship, but whether it is friendship or romantic in nature, we will only confirm after completing our investigation,” he said.
When asked about the victim’s injuries, he declined to elaborate, citing the ongoing investigation and pending court proceedings. He confirmed that the autopsy was conducted today.
The case came to light after police received a report on Oct 8 from a 52-year-old man who said he had been informed by a friend the previous night that his daughter had died.
Initial investigation revealed that the victim was believed to have been abused until her death. The suspect, who has six prior criminal records related to drugs, was later arrested at around 11am on Oct 9.
Mohamad Zainal reiterated that the police will not tolerate such violence against children. “We will ensure the suspect faces the full force of the law for this cruel act,” he affirmed. — DayakDaily
