Police today arrested a Russian couple who drew public condemnation over their street stunt of flinging up their six-month-old son.
Kuala Lumpur police chief Mazlan Lazim said police acted following complaints from the public, adding that the couple were being investigated for ill-treatment, neglect, abandonment or exposure of children, which are offences under Section 31 of the Child Act.
Mazlan said the couple, aged 28 and 27, were arrested at 2.30pm today and are now being questioned over their actions at the Dang Wangi police station here.
“We are taking their statements now and they are still at the police station. Their child is with them,” he told FMT.
He said it is still not known if the couple will be detained. The police will also contact the Russian embassy if more clarification is needed.
Mazlan had earlier told FMT that it was the job of the Welfare Department to investigate the matter.
Checks by FMT showed that video clips shared on social media, showing a man flinging his baby about during a street acrobatic show, were real.
His wife was seen cheering from the sidelines as onlookers watched in horror.
When contacted, the man, who only wanted to be known as Mikhail, had defended his baby-throwing act, saying these were acrobatic moves that served as “exercise” for their son.
Mikhail and his wife, both here on a month-long tourist visa, even claimed that their child enjoyed the “exercise”.
“Our son loves this exercise. He asks for it whenever he wakes up,” he told FMT, adding that people would gather whenever they do the “workout” with their son.
Meanwhile, the Russian embassy in Kuala Lumpur also criticised the couple.
