Johor police chief M Kumar said the extension of remand for the suspect, who was arrested with Albertine at a budget hotel in Batang Kali, Selangor, would be for seven days from tomorrow until Aug 5.

“The request will be made to enable further investigation into the local man who was arrested in relation to the child abduction at Eco Galleria on July 20.

“The public is advised against making speculations that could interfere with the investigation,” he said in a statement today.

He said any information about the incident could be channelled to the Johor police hotline at 019-2792095 or the operations room at 07-2212999.

Iskandar Puteri district police chief M Kumarasan was previously reported as asking for the public’s help in locating the child, who went missing on July 20.

Police later arrested four suspects – two men and two women aged 28 to 55 – who were released on police bail last Friday.

The child was found safe with the fifth suspect in a budget hotel at Batang Kali at 4.45am on July 23.

On July 25, it was reported that Albertine’s family had no relationship with the five arrested suspects.

Remand extended by six days

Berita Harian subsequently reported that magistrate Noorfazlin Hamdan extended the remand until Aug 4, granting police additional time to interview the 31-year-old suspect.

The male suspect, wearing a purple lock-up uniform and handcuffs, arrived at Johor Bahru magistrates’ court in a police car at 8.50am.