The Borneo Post reported that prosecuting officer Merylene Lindan Andrew Mang’s application was allowed by subordinate court assistant registrar Dora Undau, pending DNA and forensic reports.

Eric’s caregiver, Chai Xue Zhen, 36, and her husband, Ling Kok Liang, 51, were ordered to be detained at the Puncak Borneo Prison until the remention.

They were charged under Section 302 and Section 34 of the Penal Code before magistrate Zaiton Anuar on March 21 but no plea was taken then.

The charges provide for the death penalty upon conviction.

The couple are accused of murdering Eric between 5pm on March 4 and 9.15pm on March 7 at a house in Taman Riverview, Bintawa.

Eric’s mother reported him missing after a search that day.

A search operation for the child was also held from March 13 to 19 in Muara Tebas.

Chai and her husband had been remanded from March 12 to 16 to assist with the investigation under Section 31(1) of the Child Act 2001 for ill-treatment, neglect, abandonment, or exposure of children.

Police reclassified the case as murder on March 13 after it was claimed that Eric’s body had been dumped into the Sarawak River.

Neither of the accused was represented by a counsel today.