Nursery worker detained for alleged murder of infant in Melaka

MELAKA: A 34-year-old childminder has been detained for the alleged murder of an infant at Taman Kelamak Utama in Alor Gajah.

Alor Gajah OCPD Supt Ashari Abu Samah said the mother of three was detained at a nursery in Alor Gajah on Friday evening (Sept 6) to assist in the investigation under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder.

He said the suspect from Johor will be produced at the Magistrate’s Court in Ayer Keroh on Saturday (Sept 7) to be remanded.

“The eight-month-old baby boy was sent to the nursery by his mother and grandfather at 7am on Friday before the victim was rushed to Alor Gajah two hours after his nose started to bleed and body turned blue,” he said on Saturday.

Supt Ashari said the Alor Gajah Hospital has also conducted a post-mortem to determine the actual cause of the baby’s death.

Meanwhile, the baby’s father Major Ir Ts Mohd Fikry Amri Abd Halim, 39, said he never expected such a tragedy to happen to his family.

“After 13 years of waiting for a child, my wife Sabrina Hakiem Zaini and I were delighted to be blessed with a son.

“But my son Muhammad Al Fateh has left us forever,” he said when met at the Alor Gajah Hospital’s mortuary on Friday.

Mohd Fikri who serves with the Arm Forces said his 39-year-old wife was too distraught after losing their only child.

He said the wife had initially thought that Muhammad Al Fateh had a fall but was shocked when she viewed the CCTV footage.

“I will let the police investigate.

“Our child was sent to the nursery just five days ago and this happened,” he added.

It’s learnt that the nursery that has been operating since 2020 has yet to get permission from the authorities to operate.