HCMC police hunt man suspected of abusing 6-year-old son

Authorities in District 8 on Thursday examined the boy's wounds and summoned several individuals to gather more information about the case. The investigation began after residents in a neighborhood on An Duong Vuong Street discovered the boy locked alone in a room, crying, with multiple visible injuries.

The boy was immediately taken to hospital, and authorities began searching for his relatives. The child's 25-year-old mother later arrived at the police station and reported that her ex-partner, the boy's father, might have been responsible for the abuse.

Multiple wounds are seen on the body of a 6-year-old boy in HCMC. Photos provided to VnExpress

According to the mother, she and the man had lived together in HCMC from 2016, and their son was born in 2018. After their relationship ended in April 2021, she moved to Phu Yen in central Vietnam with her son.

Two months ago, due to work commitments, she left the boy in the care of his father. The mother said she maintained regular phone contact with her son during this period and noticed nothing unusual.

However, on Sept. 28, she received a phone call from an acquaintance, informing her that her son had been hospitalized with burn injuries. She left her job to attend to her son and, upon seeing the extent of his injuries, suspected that her ex-partner had abused him.

The boy is currently receiving treatment at HCMC Children's Hospital 1, where doctors are treating burn blisters on both his legs, along with infections and other medical conditions.

Police are searching for the boy's father as he has escaped from the area.