BALIK PULAU: Police detained a 43-year-old woman after a 17-month-old girl under her care died while while receiving treatment at the Penang Hospital this morning.
The victim, Sophia Fatehah Wan Farhan Danial, is believed to have drowned in a basin of water during bath time at the caretaker’s house in Batu Maung here yesterday morning.
She was rushed to the Penang Hospital for treatment and died about 2am today.
Southwest police chief Superintendent A.A. Anbalagan said in the 11am incident yesterday, the caretaker filled the basin with water to bathe the victim.
She had however forgotten the towel and had went to grab it, about 10 steps away from the bathroom.
“When she went into the bathroom again, she found half of the victim’s body, including her head, submerged in the basin of water while her legs were dangling outside. She immediately reached for the victim and found her to be conscious. She then put on the girl’s clothes before putting her to sleep.
“When she went to check on the victim 30 minutes later, she found the girl to be weak and motionless. She then contacted the ambulance for help and at the same time performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on the victim while waiting for the ambulance to arrive about 12.15pm,” he said today.
Initial investigation revealed the caretaker, who has three children of her own, has cared for the victim since she was 2-months-old. She also cared for the victim’s elder sibling.
The caretaker knew the victim’s mother, 25, while she was still at school.
Anbalagan said, according to the victim’s mother, she was alerted to the incident by the caretaker and had rushed to the Penang Hospital.
Both the victim’s parents work as an operator and technician in factories in Bayan Lepas.
Anbalagan said when the investigating officer went to visit the victim at the Penang Hospital about 4pm yesterday, the girl was still in critical condition and under observation by the specialists.
She, however, died about 2am today.
“Following the victim’s death, we have detained the caretaker at noon today to assist in our investigation.
“The case is being probed under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001. Investigation is ongoing to ascertain any criminal elements,” he added.
A post-mortem will be carried out at 8.30am tomorrow after a Covid-19 swab test is taken.
Met at the Penang Hospital Forensic Unit, the victim’s father, Wan Farhan Danial Wan Azmi, 26, said he accepted his daughter’s death as fate.
“While we grieve our girl’s death, we are not blaming the caretaker as we have known each another a long time. She had taken care of our Sophia since 2-months-old. Even my eldest child, who is 6-years-old now, was under her care since 6-months-old.
Relating the incident, Wan Farhan said he received a call from the caretaker about 1pm yesterday, while at the Penang Hospital to collect his medical report.
He said the caretaker told him that the victim drowned in a basin of water and was taken to the hospital.
“As soon as I was told, I rushed to Sophia’s ward. I chatted with the caretaker who told me that she was bathing Sophia then. However, she left my daughter for a short while to take the towel.
“When she returned, she found Sophia unconscious,” he added, noting that they caretaker attempted to give the girl first aid.
Wan Farhan said he last seen Sophia yesterday and did not expect to lose her forever today. She had just returned home for a week after being treated at the hospital.
“We accept this incident as fate,” he added.- NST