Couple moves out & leaves starving child, 7, in locked flat
A seven-year-old girl was rescued from a locked flat unit in Penang on Thursday (Jan 15).
She was weak and bruised, and had not eaten in over a week.
Where were her parents? They were living in the unit just opposite.
The family had moved out and left the girl alone in their previous unit, which was without electricity or running water. They had also locked the flat to keep her from getting out.
The girl was rescued after her teachers made a police report on Thursday.
Did not attend school
The teachers were concerned when she failed to attend classes after the first day of school, though the girl's father had turned up to collect the RM100 (S$37) school aid.
A neighbour, who wanted to be known only as Kak Timah, said on Saturday: "If they do not want the child, they should put her up for adoption.
"There are many childless couples looking to adopt."
The neighbour said the girl's stepmother had told several neighbours that the girl was possessed by evil spirits.
Another neighbour, who wanted to be known only as Liza, said she gave the girl some biscuits after learning she had not been fed.
Neighbour Mohd Suhaimi Abdullah, 27, said his family was unaware of the situation until police rescued the girl.
Mr Suhaimi, a security guard, said the girl’s father kept to himself and did not talked to neighbours.
Detained and questioned
The girl will be handed over to the welfare department once she is discharged from hospital.
Assistant Commissioner Abdul Rahman Ibrahim said the girl's father had been detained and her stepmother was being questioned.
"Investigation is still ongoing. We will also record statements from other people, including the victim’s neighbours," he said.
The girl's biological mother is thought to be the man's first wife. The couple had separated and the man was living with his second wife. They have four children.
Source: The Star Online
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