SEREMBAN, Jun 8 — 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 yesterday regarding a young girl who was allegedly being kept in the storeroom.
Initial investigations revealed 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.
“She was only allowed into the house to use the toilet before being instructed to return to the storeroom afterwards,” he said in a statement today.
Mohd Yatim said investigations also found that the victim was frequently scolded and physically abused by the suspect, believed to be her adoptive mother, over minor matters, including allegations of stealing food at night.
The girl was rescued and taken to Tuanku Ja’afar Hospital for further treatment.
The case is being investigated under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001.
Police will apply to remand the suspect at the Seremban Magistrate’s Court today to facilitate investigations.
Members of the public with information related to the case are urged to contact investigating officer Insp Zulfitri Abd Razak at 06-6033222 or the nearest police station.
