Johor police chief Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay said the 37-year-old woman and her husband, 57, were arrested at Taman Bukit Kempas here after a report was lodged at 5.31pm yesterday.

He said a teenage girl, who was the couple’s niece, was arrested in Kota Tinggi today.

He added that the two boys were believed to have been abused on June 10 at about 3pm at the babysitter’s house.

“The babysitter is believed to have abused the boys by hitting, kicking and stepping on them,” he said in a statement here today.

It is also understood that the boys’ parents – a factory worker and a cook – had been sending their children to the babysitter since 2018.

According to Ayob Khan, a medical examination found that the boys suffered soft tissue injuries and are currently undergoing treatment at the Sultanah Aminah Hospital here.

The couple has been remanded for seven days starting today, while the teenager was remanded for three days.