Kuantan police chief Wan Zahari Wan Busu said the 35-year-old man, who was apprehended in Maran on Wednesday, had 12 prior convictions for involvement in crime and narcotics.

The suspect has been remanded until Sept 25.

Wan Zahari said the two-year-old boy is now under the care of his biological mother and is in good health.

He said the child’s mother had earlier lodged a police report after receiving several video clips of her ex-husband scolding, hitting and threatening to burn their child.

The suspect is believed to have acted out of anger over his divorce from the boy’s mother and recorded the videos as a form of threat and protest.