5yo Malaysian Girl Found Dead After Allegedly Being Thrown Into River by Uncle in Johor

A family in Kota Tinggi has been left devastated after a five-year-old girl was found dead, allegedly after being thrown into a river by her uncle.

According to Kota Tinggi District Police Chief Superintendent Yusof Othman, police received a report at around 9:30 AM on Monday (21 September) regarding a local man who had gone on a rampage with a machete while chasing a 40-year-old man.

Initial investigations revealed that the suspect, a 37-year-old man, is believed to have thrown the victim, the daughter of the man he was pursuing, into a nearby river, resulting in her death.

“She seemed different from usual”

Image Credit: AlHijrah News

The victim's grandmother, 63-year-old Mahani Mad Som, said the family never imagined that the child's request to accompany her father for Isyak prayers would become one of their final memories of her.

The girl was later identified as Putri Nur Afiyah Qalesya Mustafa.

"Yesterday, she seemed different from usual. She asked for instant noodles with a runny-yolk egg, then asked her father to pray with her. It was the first time she had ever asked him to pray with her," Mahani told BERNAMA.

Mahani described Putri Nur Afiyah, the youngest of two siblings, as a bright and quick-learning child who easily understood whatever she was taught.

She said she realised her granddaughter was missing at around 9 AM after discovering the child's cradle was empty. She immediately alerted the girl's father and other family members, who began searching for her.

Putri Nur Afiyah was later found face down in a river located about 300 metres from the family's home.

According to Mahani, children in the village rarely went to the river on their own as reaching it required passing through an orchard via an unpaved path.

Suspect previously received treatment for mental health issues

The victim's uncle was subsequently arrested by police following the machete-wielding incident.

Mahani said her son had previously received treatment for mental health issues at Hospital Permai in Tampoi and was scheduled to collect his medication from Kota Tinggi Hospital on the morning of the incident.

Police are currently investigating the case under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder. Authorities have yet to determine the motive behind the incident, while investigations remain ongoing.

Featured Image Credit: BERNAMA