Sharjah: A 27-year-old Emirati man has been arrested by Sharjah Police for allegedly torturing a three-year-old Emirati boy with cigarette butts after Al Qasimi Hospital raised an alarm.
The boy’s mother had brought him to the hospital for treatment claiming that he was sick. However, seeing cigarette burn marks and signs of injuries, the doctor grew suspicious and called up the Sharjah child abuse helpline.
The medical report showed scars, bruises and burns on different parts of the boy’s body.
He was allegedly tortured by his mother’s friend’s brother.
Mohammad Mubarak, director of the Sharjah child abuse helpline, told Gulf News that they received a call from Al Qasimi hospital at around 5pm on February 11.
A team from the child protection department along with Sharjah Police went to the hospital and interrogated the mother.
She told them that she had left her son in a friend’s house and went shopping with her sister and friend. When they returned, the mother did not find her son and was told that her friend’s brother had taken her son with him. She called up the brother who said he had taken the boy out. However, he did not bring the boy back and instead sent her a photograph saying he was with him at a resort. Five days later, the man returned with the boy who was in a bad condition.
Police launched a manhunt for the man and found him in hiding under a bed in his family home.
Mubarak said the man had a criminal record.
The child protection department filed a case at Al Gharb Police station accusing the mother of negligence. She was granted bail to stay with her son in hospital.
After his condition improved, the boy was sent to the child protection shelter.
The case has been referred to Sharjah Public Prosecution.
