Three Children In hospital Over Alleged Abuse
By Liza Mohd

Kuala Belait - Three siblings allegedly abused by their father and stepmother are currently undergoing medical treatment at Suri Seri Begawan hospital in Kuala Belait.

The three -- twin girls aged 14 and their younger brother aged 13 -- are currently in the isolation ward and guarded by the police.

The police has ordered that the father and stepmother as well as immediate family members are not permitted to visit the children in the ward.

According to the biological mother of the three children, she was shocked to see her youngest son suddenly appear in her house on Sunday evening at about 6.30 pm, covered in dirt and accompanied by his twin sisters.

The mother stated that her three children appeared to be terrified and the youngest son told her that he had run away from his father's house while his twin sisters followed him.

The three children complained of being slapped, strangled and beaten with a belt by the stepmother for not obtaining permission from her when leaving home.

The father who had just returned home allegedly continued to abuse his children by kicking them, the terrified children told their mother.

The youngest son, who was frightened by the alleged abuse, decided to run away from his father's house and fell down in the process, the Borneo Bulletin was told.

According to the mother, she saw one of her twin daughter's nose bleeding and her face swollen. And she saw bruises on the arm and a bump on the hand and neck on the other twin. Her youngest son suffered a swollen hand and a bump on the head.

The mother said that he and the man had divorced and had left all the children in the custody of her ex-husband.

She lodged a police report around 7.30 pm and the police brought the three victims to the hospital where they were immediately admitted.

The mother said that one of the twin daughters suffered the most and until yesterday she was unable to swallow food. The girl's lips are still visibly swollen. Her other two children are recovering, she added.

The mother further stated that the stepmother had pleaded not to prolong the matter and drop the case. The stepmother denied any involvement and pointed out that it was her husband's doing. The biological mother of the children also said the father had asked her to drop the case fearing that it would interfere with the children's studies.

This was not the first time she said her children were physically and emotionally abused. She had previously reported to the police about a similar incident but decided to drop the case and gave her ex-husband another chance.

But the mother said she would not make another mistake this time and would leave the matter in the hands of the police. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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