TEMERLOH (Bernama): A resident of a private welfare home and orphanage here has lodged a police report claiming to be molested and abused by the centre's staff last week.

The 10-year-old girl claimed to have been summoned by a male staff member to his room at 2pm on Nov 3, and was asked to lay on her back before being molested.

The victim also claimed that prior to the incident, she had her hands tied up with her feet placed near a burning gas stove for several minutes by two male staff members there, however, she did not specify when it happened.

"Almost every day, not only me, but even my friends who live there are beaten and abused in various ways to this very day, causing us to be very afraid," the victim said in her report here.

The victim lodged the report at the Temerloh district police headquarters accompanied by her mother who only wished to be known as Jamilah.

Jamilah, 30, said the victim and her six-year-old brother were sent to the centre after the Aidilfitri celebration this year.

Temerloh district police chief ACP Zundin Mahmood, when contacted Saturday (Nov 10), confirmed receiving the report and that further investigation was underway.

Meanwhile, Pahang Social Welfare Department director Zulkhairi Zainol Abidin said the police conducted a spot check at the centre which houses 29 children aged between five and 16.

He said the home was privately owned, and depended on donations from the public.

"All the children there have been sent to the Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Hospital here for medical examination, and possible signs of abuse have been found.

"In that regard, 27 children were handed over to their respective families, while two of them have no family," he said.

Zulkhairi said the department would apply for a court order on Monday (Nov 12) to place the two orphans in an institution under its purview.

He said the spot check was carried out under Section 20(1) and Section 17 of the Child Act 2001 to save the children. - Bernama