THE remand period for five individuals, including the sister of a four-year-old boy allegedly abused to death in Senggarang, Batu Pahat, has been extended by another seven days.

Magistrate Siti Zubaidah Mahat allowed the remand order against all the individuals aged between 15 and 37, which ended today, to be extended until January 7 to complete the investigation.

The case was initially investigated under section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, but after the victim died, it was reclassified under section 302 of the penal code for murder.

Last Tuesday, Johor police chief Kamarul Zaman Mamat reportedly said the four-year-old boy was admitted to Sultan Ismail Hospital (HSI), Johor Baru on December 23 after fainting at a house in Senggarang. He died at 6.45pm three days later.

The victim, who was under the care of his 19-year-old sister as their parents are doing time for drug offences, was later handed to her friends to look after.

On Thursday, Kamarul reportedly said the post-mortem carried out identified the cause of death as blunt force head trauma. – Bernama, December 31, 2022.