GEORGE TOWN: A young girl was found bound to a refrigerator at an apartment in Lorong Perak on Wednesday night but police say she is not a victim of abuse.
The three-year-old girl was tied up by her stepsister to prevent her from climbing the window grilles, said district police chief Assistant Commissioner Azam Abdul Hamid
"The girl is a hyperactive child and her stepsister and mother decided to tie her up as they wanted to go to the clinic. We have recorded their statements following the incident."
He added that although there were bruises on the child’s legs, police had concluded that it was not a case of child abuse.
Azam said the child had since been discharged from the Penang Hospital where she was warded for observation.
Several residents alerted by the girl’s cries, were shocked to find her tied to the refrigerator when they peeped into the unit through one of the windows.
They then called the Civil Defence Department who arrived at the scene at 8.20pm.
Team members had to knock down the locked door before rescuing the child.
Azam said the child had been staying with the family for the past three months.
The three-year-old girl was found bound to a refrigerator at an apartment in Lorong Perak on Wednesday.
....................................................
Check-up confirms rescued girl a victim of child abuse
The Star online. News. Nation. Saturday April 21, 2007
By BERNARD SEE
PENANG: A three-year-old girl, found bruised and tied atop a refrigerator at a flat in Perak Lane here, was a child-abuse victim.
A medical check-up showed fresh bruises and old scars caused by canings all over the child, who was rescued by the Civil Defence Department on Wednesday night.
Sources said the abuse had been going on for over a year and her twice-divorced mother's boyfriend, in his 20s, was the main suspect.
The 44-year-old mother and seven others have been questioned in connection with the case, which has been classified as abuse.
“The main suspect, a (night market) trader, will be picked up soon to assist in investigations,” a source said.
The young girl has been admitted to the Penang Hospital’s paediatric ward for observation.
She is now under the care of the state Welfare Department.
A concerned neighbour had called the Civil Defence Department after hearing the girl crying non-stop for more than 10 minutes at the seventh-floor flat.
She was tied atop the 1.5m refrigerator with a nylon string. The door of the flat door had to be kicked open in order to reach her.
The mother and the boyfriend had gone out and left her alone.
By BERNARD SEE
PENANG: A three-year-old girl, found bruised and tied atop a refrigerator at a flat in Perak Lane here, was a child-abuse victim.
A medical check-up showed fresh bruises and old scars caused by canings all over the child, who was rescued by the Civil Defence Department on Wednesday night.
Sources said the abuse had been going on for over a year and her twice-divorced mother's boyfriend, in his 20s, was the main suspect.
The 44-year-old mother and seven others have been questioned in connection with the case, which has been classified as abuse.
“The main suspect, a (night market) trader, will be picked up soon to assist in investigations,” a source said.
The young girl has been admitted to the Penang Hospital’s paediatric ward for observation.
She is now under the care of the state Welfare Department.
A concerned neighbour had called the Civil Defence Department after hearing the girl crying non-stop for more than 10 minutes at the seventh-floor flat.
She was tied atop the 1.5m refrigerator with a nylon string. The door of the flat door had to be kicked open in order to reach her.
The mother and the boyfriend had gone out and left her alone.
..............................................
3-year-old tied to fridge may have been abused
NST online. Local News. 21/04/07
GEORGE TOWN: New questions have been raised about the three-year-old girl found tied to a refrigerator on Wednesday .
A medical check determined that the girl could have been abused.
During the check-up at Penang Hospital, doctors found bruises on the little girl’s body which were caused by caning.
Since then, police have recorded statements from eight people, including the toddler’s 44-year-old mother, her 14-year-old step-sister, and neighbours in their Lorong Perak apartment building. Police are also looking for the mother’s boyfriend, a night market trader in his 20s. No-one has been arrested so far.
The girl is still under observation at Penang Hospital.
State Welfare Department director Mahfudz Omardi said the department will conduct its own investigation once police have completed theirs.
"According to procedure, the victim will remain in the department’s care once we receive a court order. Our investigation will centre on whether the family is able to care for her or otherwise," he said.
Neighbours heard the cries of the little girl and were shocked to find her tied to the refrigerator when they peeped into the unit through a window.
The neighbours then made a distress call to the Civil Defence Department who arrived at the scene at 8.20pm and knocked down the front door to rescue the child.
No comments:
Post a Comment