LAHAD DATU: A seven-year-old boy was put to death by his own father, who is believed to be practising black magic, according to police.
The victim, identified as Haikal Salimar, was killed while sleeping in the living room of the family’s home in Kampung Epil, Jalan Kastam Baru on Thursday night.
District police chief Superintendent Shamsudin Mat said they received information about the incident at 9.45 pm and immediately rushed a team from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to the scene.
Initial investigation revealed that the victim was sleeping with his grandparent and uncle in the family’s living room when the incident took place, he said.
The victim’s grandfather told police that before the incident, the boy’s father (the suspect) had told him that he was assailed by spirits that ordered him to drink human blood.
The suspect then headed into the kitchen to take a knife to kill his son and drink his blood,” he said, adding that the grandfather immediately took the knife from the suspect and called the villagers.
Several villagers immediately rushed to the house and tied the suspect. However, the victim could not be saved and died at the scene.
Shamsudin said, the police have seized a knife believed to be the one used in the killing and that the victim’s body has been sent to the Lahad Datu general hospital for a post mortem.
The suspect is now remanded under Section 117 of the Criminal Procedure Code for seven days for further investigation.
The incident is believed to be connected to black magic practices, and investigation is still ongoing under Section 302 of the Penal Code,” he added.