BABY’S DEATH PROBED AS MURDER
Cops reclassify 9-month-old baby’s abuse case after life support machine is turned off
POLICE have reclassified an abuse case involving a 9-month-old baby here as murder under Section 302 of the Penal Code. The reclassification comes following the death of Aariz Harraz Zahin Azman at Sibu Hospital at 11.55am on Sunday after his life support machine was turned off at 11.30am.
Aariz Harraz was being treated at the hospital following injuries sustained as a result of being allegedly abused by his babysitter. Sibu district police chief Assistant Commissioner Stanley Jonathan Ringgit said the suspect’s remand, which ended yesterday, had been extended until Thursday to facilitate investigations.
Aariz Harraz had been receiving treatment since last Monday and was declared brain dead at 9.10am by medical officers.
The victim was found to be weak when he was picked up from his babysitter’s house in Taman Permai Jaya, Sibu.
He was then rushed to Sibu Hospital.
Based on checks by a paediatrician, it was confirmed that Aariz Harraz suffered bleeding in the brain and eyes, apart from a skull fracture on the left side of the head due to blunt force trauma.
The babysitter was arrested after the victim’s father lodged a report.
She admitted to having shaken the baby vigorously because he was crying continuously and claimed she was stressed as a re- sult of menstrual cramps.
Investigations found that the suspect did not have a licence to operate a daycare centre and was only helping to take care of children during office hours.