Cops to summon parents of three-year-old who drowned in Melaka homestay

ALOR GAJAH: Melaka police will summon the parents of a three-year-old boy who drowned in a swimming pool at a homestay in Durian Tunggal here to assist in an ongoing investigation into an alleged case of child neglect.

Acting Alor Gajah OCPD Deputy Supt Azrul Mohamed said officers had contacted the parents to have their statements recorded.

“The victim’s 36-year-old mother and father, who is also in his late 30s, will be contacted by this evening (Nov 3),” he said on Monday (Nov 3).

The probe has been initiated under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001 for neglect or exposure of a child to conditions likely to cause physical or emotional injury.

The offence carries a maximum fine of RM50,000, imprisonment of up to 20 years, or both, upon conviction.

DSP Azrul said police began investigating the case on Sunday (Nov 2) after receiving an alert from Melaka Hospital regarding the child’s death.

It was revealed that the victim had travelled with his parents from Temerloh, Pahang, to attend a family reunion at the homestay, which began on October 31.

The gathering involved about 35 family members, who took part in telematch activities from 9am to 3pm on November 1, before continuing with leisure activities that night.

According to a police source, one of the relatives discovered the child floating face-down and unconscious in the swimming pool at about 10.30pm on Saturday (Nov 1).

The victim’s father immediately performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) while other family members contacted an ambulance for emergency assistance.

The victim was taken to the Emergency Department of Hospital Melaka, where he was pronounced dead by medical officers.

A post-mortem examination confirmed that the cause of death was drowning and the case has been temporarily classified as a sudden death report.