By Lee Shi-Ian

SERDANG: A 10-year-old girl was revising for her upcoming exams and asked her stepmother for assistance, but was beaten and stamped on.

The assault left the girl with bruises on her face and bleeding from her eyes. The injuries were so severe that doctors gave the victim a week's medical leave.

A medical officer at Serdang Hospital was shocked at the extent of the injuries suffered by the victim and immediately lodged a report at the police beat base here.

The victim has been interviewed and examined by officers from the Social Welfare Department. It is understood that the girl's stepmother has been detained to facilitate investigations.

The incident occurred last week when the victim was revising together with her two younger sisters, aged 6 and 7. They were in the living room of their home in Taman Pesona Mekar in Kajang.

"The victim did not understand something and asked her stepmother for help. She is believed to have suddenly flown into a rage and struck the victim hard," a police source said.

"The girl began crying and her father came into the living room to see what the commotion was about. When his back was turned to his daughter, the stepmother kicked the victim and stamped on her.

"Shocked at the extent of his daughter's injuries, the father took her to a nearby clinic but was told to take her to a hospital instead. She was then taken to Putrajaya Hospital."

The victim was given a week's medical leave by the doctor and her father took her home. It is learnt that neighbours had also heard the commotion and informed the authorities.

On March 10, welfare officers visited the house and interviewed the victim. They then sent her to Serdang Hospital for a medical examination.

Selangor CID chief Senior Assistant Commissioner II Hasnan Hassan confirmed the report but declined to elaborate.

-NST