A 50-year-old man was detained after he was found allegedly exploiting his seven-year-old niece to beg at a petrol station in Melaka Tengah, while both were dressed in Spiderman costumes.
The incident came to light on Sunday after Melaka Women, Family and Community Development Committee chairman Datuk Kalsom Noordin, together with officers from the Melaka Social Welfare Department, acted on public reports alleging child exploitation at the location.
Kalsom said investigations revealed that the man was not the child’s father, but her uncle. She added that she immediately went to the scene upon receiving the complaint to assess the situation and ensure the child’s welfare.
According to the suspect, a widower, he had recently been retrenched from his job as a security officer and claimed he resorted to wearing a costume to gain public sympathy in order to survive.
“We have issued a stern warning to this individual for exploiting a child, including using a child for begging,” Kalsom said. “This offence falls under Section 32 of the Child Act 2001, which carries a penalty of up to five years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to RM20,000, or both, upon conviction.”
She stressed that exploiting children to solicit sympathy is a serious offence, even if it involves close family members.
“My presence was to ensure the child’s safety and well-being. If there are genuine financial difficulties, assistance should be sought through the proper channels and not by involving children,” she said.
The man, who arrived at the petrol station on a motorcycle, later apologised and expressed remorse, although he claimed that his actions were known to the child’s parents.
Observations conducted from 3pm onwards showed the man and the girl sitting under the scorching heat. The girl’s Spiderman costume appeared worn and torn, and she was seen walking alone near large waste bins without supervision.
She also appeared visibly exhausted and was frequently observed seeking shade under an umbrella, raising further concerns over her safety and welfare.
