Penaga: Police arrested a man to assist in an investigation into an abuse case involving the man’s three-year-old nephew in an incident in Pulau Mertajam, Penaga here last Friday. Seberang Perai Utara (SPU) district deputy police chief Supt C. Tharmalingam said the 34-year-old man was arrested around noon yesterday in Bertam here, following a police report made by the child’s father.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the initial investigation revealed that the child’s father, who has divorced his wife, made a video call to speak with his son last Friday. During the call, he witnessed his former brother-in-law caning the child, who was crying at the time. The father, currently residing and working in Kelantan, was alarmed by the incident and subsequently reported it to the authorities.

A medical examination confirmed that the child sustained bruises on his legs. The accused claimed his actions were not intended as abuse but were a response to the child’s frequent crying. Supt Tharmalingam stated that further investigations are ongoing, and the man has been remanded for four days starting today to assist with inquiries under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001.