Concerned: Chew having a word with the girl at the Children’s Protection Society in Jalan Scotland and (right) the 67-year-old suspect being led out from the George Town Magistrate’s Court after a remand order was obtained.
GEORGE TOWN: An elderly man arrested in connection with the molestation of a six-year-old girl was remanded for three days by a magistrate’s court here.
The man, 67, who is the husband of the girl’s previous babysitter and whom the girl called ‘Ah Kong’, was picked up from his apartment in Paya Terubong at 3.45pm on Sunday.
George Town OCPD Asst Comm Mior Faridalathrash Wahid said statements would be recorded from several individuals.
“The girl’s mother lodged a police report in late April after she was told by the present babysitter that her charge always slept with her hands covering her private parts.
“She also complained about pain in her private parts. Her mother then brought her to the Penang Hospital and a doctor suggested that she lodge a police report,” he told reporters after a gather-ing with cadet sergeant trainees at the police contingent headquarters in Penang Road yesterday.
“We then nabbed the man suspected by the victim’s mother to be the perpetrator. The little girl was not raped as a medical check up showed her hymen to be still intact,” said ACP Mior Faridalathrash, who added the case was being investigated as molest under Section 354 of the Penal Code.
Meanwhile, Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun said police must monitor the case closely.
“It’s disturbing that no action was taken until after a press conference was held on Sunday, despite the police report being lodged on April 21.
“I have told state deputy police chief Deputy Comm Datuk A. Thaiveegan to prioritise the safety of the child.
“It could cause more harm to the child if she grew up traumatised, and swift action should have been taken to ensure that she was given the necessary treatment,” she said after visiting the child at the Children’s Protection Society in Jalan Scotland here.
