Teacher who abuses child at kindergarten remanded

KOTA KINABALU - The woman who was allegedly seen abusing a four-year-old child at a kindergarten in a viral social media video has been detained for seven days to aid the authorities with the investigation.

Magistrate Stephani Sherron Abbie has ordered the detention of the 27-year-old woman from August 11 to 17.

Kota Kinabalu district deputy police chief Superintendent Kalsom Idris said the investigation is ongoing.

"The suspect has been arrested, but the motive remains unclear. The case is still under investigation," he told reporters at Kota Kinabalu district police headquarters on Thursday.

Kalsom added that three reports have been lodged - one by the victim's mother, another by the suspect, and the third by the kindergarten's principal.

"Charges are being pursued under Section 31(1)(a) of the Children's Act 2001.

"The child's father is also being investigated under Section 323 of the Penal Code," she said.

Kalsom also urged the public to refrain from sharing the clip on social media, as it could interfere with the investigation and cause public distress.

On Wednesday, a video recording lasting two minutes and 12 seconds, captured by a closed-circuit camera, surfaced on social media.

The footage purportedly reveals a woman at a kindergarten engaging in actions such as kicking, pulling hair, pushing, and hitting the child's head with a book.

The child's parents viewed the clip, igniting their anger towards the woman's actions. The severity of the abuse left the child's mother visibly distraught, prompting her to break down in tears upon viewing the footage.