KUCHING, July 5 — The Welfare Department (JKM) is looking for the biological mother of a boy, who died after allegedly being abused by his adoptive parents at their house in Desa Pujut, Permyjaya, Miri yesterday.

Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim said JKM officers have also been tasked with investigating the case.

“Initial investigations revealed that the two-and-a-half-month-old victim was handed over to his adoptive parents by his biological mother last December. The police are also investigating the case,” she said in a statement here today.

Rohani also expressed shock, sadness and disappointment over the incident, despite such cases being given serious attention by the ministry.

“Any individual who chooses to offer a child for adoption, needs to conduct detailed background checks on the people who want to adopt the child so that only a deserving person will be granted custody and to prevent a recurrence of such incidents,” she said.

Yesterday, Bryan Yusuf died while receiving treatment at the Miri Hospital and initial examination by medical officers found injuries believed to have been sustained from abuse.

Police have arrested the victim’s adopted parents, aged 28 and 32 years, to assist in investigations. — Bernama