JOHOR BARU: The father of six-year-old A. Tishant is facing charges of assaulting his wife, child negligence and lodging a false report, pending the completion of a murder investigation in Negri Sembilan.
Tishant was found dead and buried in a shallow grave in Jempol on July 28, four days after he was reported missing in Bukit Indah.
His 36-year-old father is the main suspect in the murder investigation.
Johor police chief Datuk M. Kumar said the suspect’s wife lodged a report against him on July 22.
She alleged that she was assaulted and that he had taken off with their only child.
He was initially investigated for allegedly assaulting his wife under Sections 323 and 324 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt, and causing hurt with dangerous weapons or means.
The man was also investigated under Section 18 of the Domestic Violence Act 1994 for allegedly abusing her.
However, the domestic abuse case took a dramatic turn midway through the interrogation when he claimed his son was missing.
Kumar said the suspect was asked to lodge a police report, but during questioning, inconsistencies in his statement raised red flags.
“His version of events leading to his son’s disappearance was vague and contradictory.
“He was then arrested.
“Further interrogation revealed the truth behind the boy’s disappearance.
“Investigation led to the discovery of Tishant’s remains in Jempol, Negri Sembilan, after which the suspect was transferred to the district for investigation under Section 302,” Kumar said at a press conference at the Johor police contingent headquarters today.
Kumar said the suspect faces charges for lodging a false report, child negligence and domestic abuse, but prosecution will only proceed once Negri Sembilan police conclude their murder investigation under Section 302 of the Penal Code.
Negri Sembilan police chief Datuk Ahmad Dzaffir Mohd Yussof said a post-mortem confirmed that Tishant died from strangulation using a cable tie.
His body was found at 4.30pm on July 28 in Rompin, following the boy’s father’s arrest in Johor.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
