ABUSED BOY DIES AT CLINIC
Doctor finds bruises on boy’s chest, eye, and forehead, as well as burn marks on his soles
A5-YEAR-OLD boy, believed to have been abused by his stepfather, died while receiving treatment at Padang Rumbia Health Clinic here on Wednesday.
The victim, Muhammad Hafiz Abdullah, was pronounced dead about 4pm.
Pahang Criminal Investigations Department chief Datuk Othman Nayan said a post-mortem would be conducted on Hafiz’s body at Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital in Kuantan.
“Preliminary examination by the doctor (at Pekan Hospital) here revealed signs of possible abuse, which included bruises on the chest, burn marks from cigarette butts on the soles, cuts on the lips and bruises on the right eye and forehead.” he said.
Othman said the victim’s 54year-old stepfather and 25-yearold mother had been arrested.
The case has been classified under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder.
The boy’s stepfather was described by neighbours and relatives as a “reserved person”, who was rarely seen in public with his children.
A neighbour, Muhamed Haekal Muhamed Nasrudin, 23, said the man seldom mingled with neighbours and often kept to himself.
“We only knew about the incident through WhatsApp last night (Wednesday). We’re shocked. I was close to his children (from the previous marriage) as we grew up in the same village. However, after he and his first wife divorced, I no longer had any contact with them,” said Haekal.
Neighbour Rasmani Sidek, 53, said villagers did not know much about the family as they rarely saw the couple and their children together.
The victim’s uncle, Mohamad Zazali Abdullah, 23, said news of Hafiz’s death came as a shock to his family.
“The victim’s stepfather is a soft-spoken man and never had problems with anyone. It is hard for me to think that he was capable of such horrible things.” he said at Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital.
“He used to work in Muadzam Shah, Rompin before moving to Kampung Baru Balik after he married the victim’s mother four years ago,” said the contractor who lives in Felda Chini in Pekan.
Zazali said he was supposed to stop by at the victim’s house on Wednesday, but was unable to do so due to work.
The victim’s family members claimed Hafiz’s body at 4.10pm. He is expected to be buried at Nenasi here.