KOTA KINABALU: A woman and her new husband have been arrested for allegedly abusing two boys, aged five and 13 years, a month ago.
The victims were left with scald burns and wounds on their bodies after they were splashed with hot water, pressed with hot iron and heated spoons, as well as beaten with iron rods.
Keningau OCPD Supt Yampil Anak Garai said the incident unfolded after a man noticed the burn marks on the teenager who came to a snooker outlet to sell burgers at around noon on April 2.
The man, a local, then lodged a police report after receiving a photo of the teenager showing burn scars.
“Following the report, a woman and a man, aged 36 and 27 respectively, were picked up from their rented house in Keningau town. Both suspects are burger sellers,” he said.
Initial investigation revealed that the teenager is the woman’s stepson from her previous marriage, while the younger boy was adopted by the suspects.
“The woman was married to the teenager’s father, but when her husband was jailed for drug abuse, the boy continued to be under her care.
“After she remarried, she and her new husband adopted another child,” said Supt Yampil, adding that the abuse happened at the rented house between March 24 and 30.
He said the teenager was abused with hot iron, pressed on his abdomen and back at least four times, based on the wound marks, and hit with wood and iron rod, for lying that he had finished selling the burgers and coming home late.
“The woman had also allegedly spilled hot water on the floor before asking the younger boy to step on it, scalding his feet. In another incident, she pressed hot iron on the boy's arms for not changing his diapers immediately after waking up,” he added.
Supt Yampil said both suspects had previous records for drug related cases.
“They are currently remanded for investigation. The case is investigated under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001 for ill-treatment, neglect, abandonment or exposure of children,” he said.
