Three suspects nabbed for abuse of 11-year-old girl

GEORGE TOWN: Police have nabbed three suspects to assist in investigations into the alleged physical abuse of an 11–year-old girl.

Photographs and a video of the alleged abuse have gone viral after they were posted on Sunday night.

Central Seberang Prai district police chief ACP Nik Ros Azhan Nik Ab Hamid said the suspects arrested were the girl’s stepmother, 38, her father, 36 and a relative. Both guardians have records for theft and narcotics abuse.

The case came to light when a neighbour at the Ampang Jajar apartments in Butterworth lodged a report with the police and the Malaysian Tamilar Kural, a non-governmental organisation, after hearing the girl’s screams. The girl stopped going to school in 2019.

Police expect to remand the suspects soon while the victim was placed under the care of the Seberang Jaya Hospital and welfare authorities.

Her eyes were visibly swollen and she was believed to have been beaten with a crash helmet, clothes hanger and sticks.

Tamilar Kural president David Marshel told the media that his organisation received a distress call from the neighbour at about 10am on Sunday.

They rushed over to rescue the girl, who was home alone after the neighbour forwarded photographs of the victim’s face.

The girl has three siblings and welfare authorities are seeking temporary custody of the children from the couple.

Marshel also urged those posting such news on social media to protect the victim’s identity as she was considered a minor.

Nik Ros Azhan later said that the girl will also undergo tests to determine if she suffered any internal injuries.