Nabbed for abuse of elderly woman
GEORGE TOWN: A couple were detained yesterday on suspicion of abusing their visually-impaired aunt at their double-storey house in Taman Siakap in Seberang Jaya.
The 56-year-old man and his wife, aged 54, were arrested following a report lodged by the chairman of a non-governmental organisation (NGO), who was alerted by concerned neighbours.
The couple are in remand until tomorrow to assist investigations under Section 324 of the Penal Code.
In the alleged abuse, the 79year-old victim sustained swelling on the back of her head, bruises on the right hand and injuries on her lips.
Seberang Prai Tengah district police chief Assistant Commissioner Nik Ros Azhan Nik Ab Hamid said the chairman of the NGO and his friend had gone to the house at 11.45am on Monday after receiving information on the suspected abuse case.
“Upon arrival, they went to the back of the house and stood behind the fence. There, they saw the senior citizen all drenched.
“They had asked her why she was sitting at the back of the house, all wet, to which the victim replied she was splashed with water by her nephew.
“The chairman of the NGO and his friend had taken a video recording of the victim while she was speaking and her condition,” he said, adding that they then decided to lodge a police report.
Nik Ros Azhan said, following the report, a police team went to the house to rescue the victim and took her to the Bukit Mertajam Hospital.
“She also told us that she was often placed at the back of the house when all the occupants were out working,” he said.
Nik Ros Azhan said police had since spoken to the neighbours and the doctors who attended to the victim.