Kota tinggi: Three individuals, including the step-grandmother of a one-year-four-month-old girl, have been detained to assist investigations into the murder of the toddler in Taman Sri Saujana, near Kota Tinggi, on Aug 2.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Johor Police chief Datuk Ab Rahaman Arsad stated that the other two suspects are the victim's 18-year-old mother, who is a vocational college student, and her 47-year-old grandfather. The incident came to light when the victim's step-grandmother filed a report with the police at approximately 9.30 am on July 31, claiming the child's death occurred while she was sleeping at her home in Taman Sri Saujana.

The step-grandmother alleged that the child was unresponsive when she attempted to wake her, and healthcare personnel later pronounced the child dead. Initially, the investigation proceeded under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, which pertains to neglect leading to the child's death, as explained by Ab Rahaman during a press conference at the Johor Police Contingent Headquarters.

A post-mortem conducted at Pasir Gudang Hospital revealed that the toddler succumbed to blunt force trauma to the abdomen and chest, with multiple wounds and bruises observed on her body. The police suspect that the child was abused, possibly beaten or stepped on, as she had been under the care of her grandfather and step-grandmother since birth.

All three suspects have been remanded for 11 days starting from Aug 2, with the case now being investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which pertains to murder. Ab Rahaman confirmed that the investigation papers have been finalized and submitted to the Johor Prosecution Director's office. The step-grandmother is expected to be charged at the Kota Tinggi Magistrate's Court tomorrow. Meanwhile, the victim's grandfather and mother are set to be released on bail under Section 118 of the Criminal Procedure Code to serve as prosecution witnesses.