Arau police chief Ahmad Mohsin Rodi said the 35-year-old suspect was arrested on April 16, and released the same day on police bail.

“The suspect was arrested at 2.30pm to assist in investigations into the death of a baby. She was then released on police bail until June 16,” Berita Harian reported him as saying.

The baby’s death was confirmed on April 22. She had been receiving treatment at Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital’s paediatric intensive care unit in Alor Setar, Kedah.

Ahmad Mohsin said a post-mortem on April 23 found that the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head, which caused subdural bleeding in the brain.

He said investigations found that the baby had been in the babysitter’s care since Feb 11, and that prior to the incident, the mother had found a bruise on the child’s nose and forehead on April 7.

The babysitter claimed that her six-year-old child had attempted to hold the baby, but the baby fell and hit a television console. The mother did not seek treatment for her baby as the baby seemed to be in good health.

However, on April 15, the babysitter contacted the mother at 5.16pm, saying the baby was unconscious in her living room.

Police are investigating the case under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001 for child neglect and abuse.