Step-grandmother to be charged with murder of 16-month-old baby in Kota Tinggi

A 39-year-old step-grandmother in Kota Tinggi is set to be charged with the murder of her 16-month-old granddaughter, according to police reports. The toddler, who had been living with her step-grandparents in Taman Sri Saujana, Johor Bharu, was found unresponsive by her step-grandmother on July 31. Despite attempts at CPR, the baby was pronounced dead at 10:30 AM on the same day.

Initially, the case was treated as neglect under the Child Act 2001, but a post-mortem examination revealed the toddler's death was caused by blunt-force trauma to the abdomen and chest, as well as wounds and bruises. Consequently, the police reclassified the case as murder under Section 302 of the Penal Code and arrested the step-grandmother, her grandfather, and the baby's biological mother.

All three suspects were subsequently remanded into custody, with the grandfather and biological mother being released on bail to serve as prosecution witnesses. The step-grandmother is scheduled to be charged in the Kota Tinggi Magistrates' Court the following day.