2007 06: Mother on bail to look after abused toddler, lover remains in jail

The Star online. News. Nation. Wednesday June 20, 2007

KOTA KINABALU: A mother has been released on police bail to look after her abused four-year-old son while her lover remains in custody.

Kota Kinabalu City police chief Asst Comm Ku Chin Wah said that they decided to release the 27-year-old mother on Wednesday after considering the condition of the child, who has been hospitalised with third degree burns since he was rescued by police on Saturday.

“The boy has been crying for his mother. We decided to let her care for the boy though we are still investigating to see if she was directly or indirectly involved in abusing the boy,” he said.

Ku said that police investigations indicated that the boy had been abused several time over a period of time and the abuse included tying him up and pouring hot water that caused severe scalding apart from other burns.

“The doctors treating the boy have told us that it would take some time for the boy to recover as some of his muscles have been affected by the scalding,” he said.

Ku said police believe that they have sufficient evidence to take up charges against the mother’s lover, a 25-year-old self employed man, who was detained together with the mother when police raided a house here on Saturday.

A police team found the badly injured boy “shivering and crying” on the floor of the living room during the raid that came after neighbours informed police on hearing the boy’s screams.

Ku said the couple mainly told police that they punished the boy because he was naughty.

The boy was conceived by the mother from an earlier relationship with another man and has for few years been living together with her lover.

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Mum released to look after abused boy
The Star online. News. Nation. Thursday June 21, 2007

KOTA KINABALU: A mother has been released on police bail to look after her abused four-year-old son while her lover remains in custody.

City police chief Asst Comm Ku Chin Wah said the 27-year-old mother was released yesterday after the child – who has been hospitalised with third degree burns – was rescued last Saturday.

“The boy has been crying for his mother.

“We have decided to let her care for the boy, although we are still investigating if she is directly or indirectly involved in abusing the boy,” he said.

The child was said to have been tied up and hot water poured over his head, causing severe scalding and burns on his body.

Doctors said it would take some time for him to recover.