The cause of death for a four-month-old baby boy who passed away at a 24-hour childcare centre within the Seberang Jaya Hospital in Penang grounds last week has been officially identified as drowning. Penang Police Chief, Datuk Azizee Ismail, confirmed that preliminary post-mortem findings indicated the infant died due to asphyxiation consistent with drowning.
Speaking during the Op Selamat 26 programme held at the Juru Toll Plaza on Wednesday, Datuk Azizee stated that the investigation paper is currently in the process of being finalised. He noted that several critical aspects of the case are being meticulously refined before the matter is referred to the Deputy Public Prosecutor for further legal instructions and potential charges.
The victim, identified as Hayl Haarith Mohd Syafaeez, was found unconscious at the 24-hour nursery in the early hours of Monday morning last week. His mother, Ummu Habibah Wahab, a 30-year-old nurse working the night shift at the same hospital, received a harrowing phone call at approximately 4.00 am informing her that her son’s face had turned blue.
The infant was immediately rushed to the hospital’s Emergency Department, where medical personnel performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for nearly an hour in a desperate bid to save his life. Despite their extensive efforts, the baby could not be revived. It is understood that the infant had only recently started attending the nursery as his mother had just returned to work following the completion of her confinement period.
Police have since classified the case under investigation for murder, and the remand for two nursery employees has been extended to facilitate ongoing enquiries. The two women, both aged 31, were initially remanded on 10 March, and their detention has been prolonged for another seven days. To date, authorities have recorded statements from 12 individuals to assist in piecing together the events leading to the tragic loss of life.
