SIBU: A nine-month-old boy, who was in a critical condition after being allegedly abused by his babysitter at a house in Taman Permai here last Monday, died at the Sibu Hospital yesterday.
Aariz Harraz Zahin Azman, breathed his last in the arms of his mother, Hajijah Tahir at 11.55am after his life support machine was taken off at 11.30am.
The baby was certified brain dead by a medical team at 9.10am yesterday.
According to Sibu district police chief ACP Stanley Jonathan Ringgit, the parents agreed to stop the life support machine yesterday after a second test for brain death remained the same.
He said the case had now been classified as murder.
Meanwhile, Nangka state assemblyman Dr Anuar Rapa’ee, who visited the victim at the hospital, urged the public to give space for the parents and family members to grieve.
“We will leave the matter to the police for further action,” he told reporters.
Last Monday, the baby was rushed to Sibu Hospital when his parents found him in a weak condition after taking him from his babysitter’s house in Taman Permai here.
A medical examination confirmed that the victim suffered internal haemorrhage and skull fracture believed to have been hit against a hard surface or shaken forcibly.
A 39-year-old suspect was remanded the following day after the victim’s parents lodged a police report.
The woman who has been operating the child care centre without a licence had been taking care of the child since August last year. – Bernama
