Police have denied claims circulating on WhatsApp that a woman attempted to abduct a Year Three boy from a primary school in Ayer Keroh on Monday.
Melaka Tengah district police chief, Assistant Commissioner Christopher Patit, said investigations revealed the incident stemmed from a misunderstanding, which led the boy’s mother to lodge a police report yesterday.
The 28-year-old cashier had been worried for her nine-year-old son’s safety after the school van driver told her that an unfamiliar woman was seen outside the school. This suspicion prompted her to assume an abduction attempt and file a report.
Police also received another report from a 44-year-old woman who said she was unfairly linked to the abduction rumors in the school’s WhatsApp group. She explained that she had gone to the school that day to pick up her 11-year-old child and happened to leave the premises alongside the Year Three student.
The misunderstanding reportedly began when some pupils were arguing over an eraser. The woman had asked the boy about the matter, but her actions were mistaken as suspicious behavior.
Christopher confirmed there was no criminal element involved and both women later met at the Ayer Keroh police station, agreeing the case was simply a misunderstanding and considered resolved.
He reminded the public not to spread unverified claims that could cause panic, stressing that any security-related concerns should first be referred to the police.
