Dubai: A man was arrested by Dubai Police for beating his eight-month-old son with a stick for several months, an officer said on Monday.

The man has also been removed from the family home to prevent further physical abuse of the infant and referred to the Dubai Public Prosecution.

Brigadier Mohammad Al Murr, Director of the Human Rights Department of Dubai Police, said the Asian father used to beat his son whenever he had a fight with his mother. It was not immediately clear when the abuse started.

The abuse came to light after the parents took their son to Latifa Hospital claiming that he fell from a sofa in their apartment, Brig Al Murr said.

“Doctors noticed signs of abuse and violence on the baby and he was seriously injured and crying all the time in pain. The hospital informed Dubai Police and we discovered that the father used to take revenge upon his wife by beating their child,” Brig Al Murr said.

The mother told the police that in the latest incident, her husband had hit their son with a stick when the child was crying.

“She claimed that he threatened to beat her if she informed anyone about what he used to do to his son. He even assaulted her when she tried to defend her son,” Brig Al Murr added.

Dubai Police opened a case against the parents and kept the infant in the hospital till he recovered in coordination with the Dubai Foundation for Women and Children, “The baby was later kept at the foundation in Dubai. The mother confessed that she was afraid of her husband and couldn’t complain because he used to threaten to send her back to their country.”

The baby has been returned to his mother but under full supervision from Dubai Police who are checking on the child regularly.

Colonel Abu Bakr Al Jasmi, Director of the Women and Child Protection section of Dubai Police, said the father had been beating the child for months before it was discovered.

“The physical assault signs were all over the child’s body and the father used to beat him with a stick. The mother was afraid of him,” Col Al Jasmi said.

He said Dubai Police are in direct contact with all hospitals in the emirate to get alerts about cases of physical assault on children and women.