Troubled life
WRONG CROWD: She mixed with drug pushers after running away from home
THE Sungai Petani mother, whose 2-year-old son’s body was found stuffed in a cooler box in a flat she shared with her boyfriend, once mixed with drug users. Her 4-year-old daughter is hospitalised from being allegedly abused by the boyfriend.
THE woman, whose 2-year-old son died in the hands of her abusive drug addict boyfriend here, landed herself in trouble after running away from home after finishing high school.
The 26-year-old mother of two, who was raised by her grandmother in Taman Seri Aman 2, Bedong, was described by neighbours as “a nice and bright girl” during her school days. But, they said, she went astray.
“After leaving home for a while, she returned and was engaged to a man, who was also from Kedah. However, the engagement did not end in marriage. She was heartbroken,” said a relative yesterday.
The relative, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the failed romance hit the woman badly.
“That was when she decided to run away from all the pain. She went to Johor Baru to begin a new life, where she got married and had her daughter,” she said.
Her daughter, 4, believed to have been abused by the same man who caused the death of her son, is receiving treatment for injuries to the body and head at Sultan Abdul Halim Hospital here.
The relative said after a few years the woman returned with her daughter, who was then 1 year old, to visit her grandmother.
“I hardly saw her as she was in Johor Baru. It was only until early last year when she came back to stay with her grandmother.
“This time, she came with her daughter and son, who was 1 year old then,” said the relative.
Even with two children, she said, the mother was in “deep trouble” as she mixed with the wrong crowd, including drug users.
The young mother then left her grandmother’s house with her children.
“This happened after her boyfriend at that time was busted for drug abuse early this year. No one heard any news about her for months or knew her whereabouts.
“Then, one day she reappeared at her grandmother’s home, unemployed and in need of a place to stay.
“She stayed for a couple of months and then left to find a job as she pitied her grandmother, who depended on the small amount of money given by the latter’s son to support the four of them,” she said.
A 40-year-old neighbour, who wanted to be known only as Shuhada, said although she lived nearby, she rarely saw the victim’s mother.
She said the door of the grandmother’s house was always shut and locked although there were people at home.
She said sometimes, neighbours could hear quarrels coming from the house.
Shuhada claimed that the grandmother was a bit harsh on the woman when she was small and there were times when she would get scolded and punished over trivial matters.
“I was shocked to learn about the boy’s death. I have never met him... I think none of the neighbours here has seen him.
“But, I recognise the victim’s sister, who is now in the hospital, because she used to come and play at my house.
“I can’t stop crying when I found out what happened to her.” Page 1 pic: The Paya Nahu 2 People’s Housing Project flat unit, where the body of the 2-year-old boy was found stuffed in a cooler box, in Sungai Petani.