Alleged abusive couple detained

KUALA LUMPUR: Police detained a couple allegedly involved in abusing a 5-year-old child in Kota Baru, Kelantan on Sunday.
Kelantan police chief Datuk Mazlan Lazim said the duo, who are the child's father and stepmother were picked up at about 9pm at a restaurant in Jalan Bayam there.
"The arrest was made to facilitate our probe into the physical abuse suffered by the child," said Mazlan when met at the federal police headquarters after the distribution of Hari Raya cookies to the police today.
Mazlan added that police have also obtained a remand order from Pasir Mas court starting this morning.
The couple aged 40 and 25, are believed to have gone into hiding in Thailand after police were aware of the case.
"The fled to Thailand to avoid being detected when they realised that news had spread.
"However, they came back to Kelantan after police worked with their Thai counterparts to trail them," added Mazlan.
The case is being investigated under Section 31(1) of the Child Act 2001.
The girl, who was also known as "Yaya" was believed to have been abused in the past three to six months.
Her state of health shocked her biological mother, Sana Abdul Malek, 28.
She had been living with her father and stepmother in Rantau Pnjang, Pasir Mas for the past two years.
Meanwhile, in Kota Baru, Bernama reported that the girl underwent intestinal surgery today.
Raja Perempuan Zainab II Hospital (HRPZII) director Datuk Dr Ghazali Hasni Md Hassan said the surgery was necessary as the girl's intestine was twisted.
"She was brought into the operating theatre at 10.30am and the surgery was completed in an hour.
"Her condition is stable and she will not be able to eat anything for now until the intestine is healed," he told a media conference at his office.
Ghazali said the girl was being given intensive care and not allowed to have visitors, including family members and the media, except her biological mother.
On the condition of her rib, which was fractured, he said it would take three to six months to heal depending on her health condition.
He said a CT scan was conducted on the girl and no injury was detected in her internal organs.
The girl, allegedly abused in Rantau Panjang, Pasir Mas, was found to have 10 broken bones in the ribs, backbone and right shoulder, and a dislocated hip.

She was also said to be suffering from pneumonia, severe trauma and bruises on the chest, abdomen and back.
Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim also told Bernama that a temporary custody order would only be obtained after the victim completes her treatment.
She said this was because the girl could not move much, due to her injuries such as a fractured left rib and bent backbone, believed to be caused by a hard push or fall
from a high place.