A three-year-old abuse victim, identified only as IS, was apparently a victim of kidnapping in December 2012, North Jakarta Police said on Saturday.

North Jakarta Police chief detective Adj. Sr. Comr. Daddy Hartady said that Dadang, who had claimed to be IS' father, was the alleged kidnapper and abuser.

Daddy said Dadang picked up IS, who was accompanying his mother Iis, an iced-tea vendor, near Atrium Plaza in Senen, Central Jakarta. Dadang and Iis had been in a relationship until she broke it off and found another boyfriend. Dadang allegedly snatched IS and made him work for him as a street busker.

Daddy said Dadang, who had been arrested, and his wife, who was still at large, allegedly frequently subjected IS to abuse because 'he often cried'.

IS' aunt, Ira Mariani, said as quoted by kompas.com that they had reported IS' disappearance to Senen Police and had posted pictures of him around Senen.

IS is in intensive care being treated for multiple injuries, including to his genitalia, in Koja Hospital in North Jakarta.

Ira said that her family had lost contact with Iis two weeks ago and that the boy's father was dead. Ira's family plans to take IS to live with them after he recovers.

'We have stitched the wounds to his chest, we've treated the wounds on his arm, his broken left arm has been cast. His face was blue but now he can talk to us,' Koja Hospital director Togi Asman Sinaga said as quoted by kompas.com.

The police said Dadang and his wife allegedly beat, bit and kicked IS; they also burned him with a hot iron, nails and cigarettes. They even reportedly cut his tongue.

IS' uncle, Ivan, who also visited IS in the hospital said that he found out about IS from the TV news. IS has also been visited by many well-wishers.

On Tuesday, Juliana, a Transjakarta passenger, saw Dadang carrying IS in Mangga Dua in North Jakarta. IS was reportedly having convulsions. Juliana insisted Dadang take IS to a nearby puskesmas (community health center), which then referred the toddler to a bigger facility due to the severity of his injuries.