Alleged kidnapping of girl, 6, in JB: Suspect has remand extended over possession of child pornography

JOHOR BAHRU: The man suspected of kidnapping a six-year-old girl in Johor Bahru last month was remanded again on Monday (Aug 5) to assist in police investigations into a case of possessing child sexual abuse material and pornography.

Magistrate Azureen Sahira Sauffe Afandi granted the 31-year-old man’s remand for six days, starting Monday until Aug 10, following an application made at the Kulai Magistrate’s Court.

The remand is to allow further investigation under Section 10 of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 and Section 292 of the Penal Code.

Previously, the suspect was remanded for 13 days from Jul 23 until Aug 4 to assist in investigations under Section 365 of the Penal Code and Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 before being released on police bail.

Johor police chief M. Kumar was reported to have said that the suspect was rearrested on Aug 4 following the discovery of various sex toys, adult pornographic material, and child sexual abuse material at his residence in Kulai, Johor.

In the earlier case, the six-year-old girl was reported missing by her father on Jul 20 at a shopping mall in Iskandar Puteri before she was found safe at a budget hotel in Batang Kali, Selangor – located some 350km away – on Jul 23.

Police then arrested five people – three men and two women – in total to assist with investigations relating to the case.

Four of them have since been released on police bail after the authorities did not extend their remand period.