The Sun Malaysia

Woman held over alleged confinement of adopted daughter in storeroom

SEREMBAN: Police have arrested a 46-year-old woman suspected of confining a nine-year-old girl in a storeroom behind a house in Taman Tuanku Jaafar here yesterday. Seremban district police chief ACP Mohd Yatim Osman said a report was received at 7.22 pm on June 7 regarding a young girl who was allegedly locked in an unlocked storeroom. He said initial investigations found that the victim had been the family's adopted child since she was one year and eight months old. "During the recent school holidays, the victim was placed in an unlocked storeroom behind the house and was given food twice a day. "The victim was only allowed into the house to use the toilet before being instructed to return to the storeroom afterwards," he said in a statement here today. Mohd Yatim said investigations also revealed that the victim was frequently scolded and beaten by the suspect, her adoptive mother, over minor matters, including stealing food at night. He said the victim was rescued and taken to Hospital Tuanku Ja'afar Seremban for further treatment. The case is being investigated under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, and an application will be made to remand the suspect at the Seremban Magistrate's Court today to assist in investigations. Members of the public with information related to the case are urged to contact the investigating officer, Insp Zulfitri Abd Razak, at 06-6033222 or any nearby police station.