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TAWAU: July 29, 2026 – Police have arrested a foreign couple on suspicion of abusing a two-month-old baby girl at Tawau Hospital. The action was taken after a medical examination found that the infant had a bruise on her left forehead, bite marks on her right cheek and swelling at the back of her head.
Acting Tawau District Police Chief Superintendent Wilynton Enchana Watt said the case came to light after a doctor at the emergency department filed a police report.
“The baby was brought in for treatment by the couple along with her grandmother. The pair initially claimed that the baby had fallen, but the grandmother informed the doctor that the injuries were caused by both suspects,” he said.
Police then arrested a foreign man in his 30s and an 18-year-old foreign woman in the grounds of Tawau Hospital at around 11.45pm on 27 July. The case is being investigated under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001 (for child abuse or neglect) and Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63.
Wilynton expressed his appreciation to Tawau Hospital staff for their swift action in detecting the injuries and relaying information to police. He stressed that police would not compromise on any form of child abuse and urged the public to channel information to the nearest police station.
Source: Tawau District Police Headquarters
