Kuala perlis: Police arrested a 26-year-old crane operator at midnight on suspicion of abusing his six-year-old nephew at a house in Jalan Kilang Ais, Kuala Perlis, near here.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Kangar District Police Chief ACP Yusharifuddin Mohd Yusop stated that the male suspect was apprehended at 12:20 am and is believed to have beaten the boy’s left hand with a belt, resulting in bruises. Yusharifuddin explained that police received a report from the victim’s maternal aunt, aged 37, who reported the incident after the child claimed he was beaten by his paternal uncle at his grandfather’s house.

Yusharifuddin revealed that the incident allegedly occurred when the victim was playing and drawing on his face with a marker pen in the living room. The suspect was reportedly unhappy with this behavior and, after forbidding the child, proceeded to hit him with a belt. It was noted that the victim had previously claimed to be beaten by the suspect multiple times. However, his aunt had not filed a police report earlier, hoping to maintain family relations.

Further details disclosed that the child, along with his two siblings aged four and nine, have been under the care of their aunt and paternal grandfather since 2022, following their parents’ divorce. Their father is currently serving a prison sentence, and their mother has remarried.

Yusharifuddin informed that the victim and his siblings were referred to Tuanku Fauziah Hospital for further examination. Meanwhile, the suspect has been remanded for four days to assist in the investigation. The case is being investigated under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001.