8-8-2024 (KUALA LUMPUR) The individual suspected of abducting a six-year-old girl in Johor last month will be confronted with a total of 15 charges, according to Johor police chief M. Kumar. The suspect is scheduled to appear before the Johor Bahru court and the Kulai Magistrate’s Court on 8 August to face these charges.
Kumar stated, “We’ve submitted two investigation papers to the Johor deputy public prosecution office concerning the suspect’s alleged abduction of a child on 20 July at Eco Galleria. We’ve received instructions to proceed with 15 charges against the suspect.”
The police chief elaborated on the nature of the charges. One charge falls under Section 363 of the Penal Code for child abduction, while another is under Section 346 for wrongful confinement. Additionally, seven charges will be brought under Section 292 for possession of pornographic materials.
The suspect will also face four charges under Section 8(b) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017. Kumar added, “The suspect will face one charge each under Section 10 and Section 15(a)(ii) of the same Act.”
This development follows the suspect’s re-arrest on 4 August, prompted by the discovery of various sex toys, adult pornographic material, and child sexual abuse content at his residence in Kulai. The suspect is currently under remand to facilitate further investigation under Section 10 of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act and Section 292 of the Penal Code.
Prior to this, the suspect had been remanded for 13 days from 23 July to 5 August to assist in investigations under Section 365 of the Penal Code and Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act. He was subsequently released on police bail.
The case that sparked this investigation involved a six-year-old girl who was reported missing by her father on 20 July at a shopping mall in Iskandar Puteri, Johor. The child was found safe three days later at a budget hotel in Batang Kali, Selangor.
