Kuching police detain four over probe into boy’s disappearance

11 Mar 2022 • 4:47 PM MYT
The Vibes
The Vibes

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Kuching police detain four over probe into boy’s disappearance

MIRI – Police have detained two men and two women in its probe into the case of a missing 4-year-old boy.

Kuching police chief Asst Comm Ashmon Bajah said today that the four were detained to help facilitate investigation into the case of Eric Chang Wei Jie. 

His mother had reported him missing from their house at Taman Riverview in the state capital’s Bintawa area on March 7.

“The four arrested are aged between 24 to 49,” Ashmon said in a statement. 

“They had past criminal records and had tested positive for drugs.

“A special task force is investigating this missing boy case,” he added.

Ashmon said that the four will be brought to court for a remand order.

He urged those with information about the boy to call Insp Hasmah Abdul Jalil at 013-6852210.

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4-year-old Eric Chang Wei Jie’s mother had reported him missing from their house at Taman Riverview in Kuching’s Bintawa area on March 7. – Pic courtesy of Royal Malaysia Police, March 11, 2022

Meanwhile, Dayak Daily reported that among the individuals detained was the mother of the child.

It reported that it is understood that she was detained on Wednesday along with a friend, who is Chang’s guardian. 

According to the news portal, the two suspects have been remanded for further investigation under Section 31(1) of the Child Act 2001, which covers alleged “ill treatment, neglect, abandonment or exposure of children”.

Ashmon had reportedly said yesterday that the police’s K9 unit and family members had joined the search.

Chang is believed to have worn a dark blue round-collar t-shirt and black knee-length shorts when he went missing. – The Vibes, March 11, 2022