The boy allegedly burned by his mother will be discharged tomorrow while his mother is facing a long stretch in police custody to facilitate investigations.
Boy allowed to come home in 3-6 months’ time
Mother in French police custody, could be held for investigation for 2 years
An 11-year-old Malaysian boy, who was allegedly abused by his mother during a trip to Paris, today received a visit from the Malaysian ambassador to France, Datuk Ibrahim Abdullah.
Ibrahim, accompanied by embassy staff as well as a translator, visited the boy at the Necker Hospital in Paris, where the boy is being warded for third-degree burns.
The boy, reportedly part of a dance troupe performing in the country, was allegedly scalded with hot water by his mother for refusing to dance, in the Dec 11 incident.
The hotel where mother and son were staying had reported the incident to the police.
The boy’s mother is currently under French police custody.
Ibrahim spent about 25 minutes with the boy, whom he described as being “in good spirits, energetic, and very engaging in his communication.”
Ibrahim said the boy did not show any signs of trauma. He also could not ascertain any of the boy’s reported injuries as the boy was fully clothed during the meeting with the officials.
“He was not in hospital garb so I cannot confirm what was reported earlier. They (medical experts) are also focusing on psychological treatment,” said Ibrahim.
Ibrahim said that they are awaiting a decision from the juvenile court to give consent to child welfare services to temporarily place the child with foster parents.
It is understood that the boy will be placed temporarily with a foster family upon his discharge tomorrow (Thursday) afternoon.
“We hope to get more details on their plans, such as where the boy will be placed.
“We also hope to be able to meet the foster parents because the embassy is also concerned over his welfare, his studies and so on,” he added.
On the possibility that the child will be sent back to Malaysia, Ibrahim said that while they are exploring the idea of having him sent back home to his family, it would not be a straightforward process.
“The court here must get a report from the Social Welfare Department in Malaysia that the boy’s family will be responsible for his welfare. Only then will he be allowed home,” he said, noting that the process could take between three to six months.
Meanwhile, the boy’s mother, 46, is being investigated for ‘acts of torture and barbarity on a minor under 15 years of age by a parent’.
It is understood that while she has yet to be charged, French authorities have directed for a judicial investigation for the offence, which falls under Penal Code Articles 222-1 and 222-2 of the French law.
It is understood that the process could take as long as two years.
French media outlet Le Parisien had reported that in the incident, the boy, clad only in his pyjamas, had run down to the reception of the Adagio hotel, on the evening of Dec 12.
In its report, it said that when the boy’s mother came after him, the boy hid under the reception counter and rolled up his sleeves to show the hotel staff multiple burns on his wrists, legs and buttocks.
He had explained (to the receptionist) in English that when he refused to dance, his mother boiled water to pour it over him. The burns were allegedly inflicted when they were staying at another hotel near the Paris Disneyland the previous day.
The hotel staff then called the police. The boy was sent to hospital while his mother was arrested the following day. She has been in police custody ever since.
The Malaysian embassy in Paris had received a call from a relative in Malaysia, six hours after the arrest of the woman. – NST
Earlier report: Dec 16, Malaysian Boy ‘Tortured’ by Mother in Paris for Refusing to Dance