A three-year-old boy from Kampung Sri Bintang in Kuala Krai near Kota Baru has been hospitalised in critical condition, with drugs found in his system.
Kelantan acting police chief Datuk Muhamad Zaki Harun said a doctor lodged a report on the incident at 5am on Sunday (June 19) after boy was brought to Hospital Sultan Ismail Petra Hospital in Kuala Krai by his 36-year-old mother.
He said following the report, police detained the victim’s 30-year-old uncle, a suspected drug addict, at 10pm the same day to help with the investigation.
Muhamad Zaki said the drug in the victim’s system was believed to be methamphetamine, based on a urine test.
“The child was then sent to Hospital Raja Perempuan Zainab II in Kota Baru for further treatment due to his critical condition,” he told reporters after attending the monthly assembly at the state police contingent headquarters here on Monday (June 20).
Muhamad Zaki said police believed that the victim was taken to a drug den while in his uncle’s care.
“We are trying to determine whether the child was given drugs, or left unattended causing him to be exposed to drugs,” he said.
This was the first such case in the state, he added.
“Police are in the process of obtaining a remand order against the suspect and the case will be investigated under Section 31 (1) (a) of the Child Act 2001,” he said.