The Jeddah branch of the Investigation and Public Prosecution Commission has completed its investigations into the father and referred the case to court for proceedings to begin, Al-Watan newspaper reported.
The father has admitted to torturing the child and his mother has filed for divorce. The baby, called Abdullah, was brought to a private hospital in Jeddah in April when he was six weeks old. He was found to have fractured legs and skull, and was bleeding from the head.
Asked about the injuries, the father said Abdullah had accidentally fallen. Subsequent medical checks, however, found that the injuries were consistent with abuse.
Abdullah was in a coma at the time suffering from cerebral hemorrhage. He also had serious injuries and bruises to his head, face, chest and shoulders. His head and left eye were swollen, and he underwent surgery to extract a piece of broken bone from his skull. He was then taken to King Abdulaziz Medical City for further treatment.
After being confronted with evidence of abuse, the father gradually began to open up and initially claimed his son had been tortured by some unknown people. He later admitted responsibility for the abuse. The case was subsequently passed on to the Center for Protection of Children from Domestic Violence in Jeddah.
It was also found that Abdullah was being abused when the mother was out, asleep or not present in the room. Having investigated the case, the center lodged a complaint with police who also carried out their own investigation and then referred the matter to the Investigation and Public Prosecution Commission.
During investigations it also became known that the father had previously beaten the mother.
In a complaint filed at a police station in Jeddah’s Al-Samir district, the baby’s mother recounted her harrowing experience with her husband. “One week after Abdullah was born, I’m sure my husband beat him up while I slept. When I woke up, I saw bruises to his face and reddishness around his eyes. I asked my husband about it and he said he had fallen down,” she said.
“After 10 days, I saw Abdullah feeling poorly and ice around his head. When I asked my husband about it, he replied that he was suffering from severe fever. I believed him and didn’t think anything was wrong,” she said, adding that she could not believe it when her husband confessed to torturing Abdullah.
She said her husband then threatened to kill her if she disclosed what had happened to any of their relatives and friends. “When it became apparent that he was behind the torture, I was immensely shocked. I then went to visit my family. After informing my parents and other relatives about what had happened, I decided to seek a divorce,” she said.
Dr. Sara Abid, a consultant pediatrician at King Abdulaziz Medical City, said Abdullah was admitted into the hospital’s intensive care unit and underwent brain surgery.
“The father first told hospital staff that the baby was injured after falling from his hands. But the medical tests showed that the injuries were caused through violent shaking and then being thrown on some hard surface several times,” she said, adding that there is little chance the baby will lead a normal life because of his injuries.
“The disabilities are permanent,” she said, adding that Abdullah now lives with his mother.
Meanwhile, legal sources have urged schools and hospitals to take any signs of child abuse seriously and inform the police.
