Johor police chief M Kumar said the victim’s father, a 48-year-old Chinese national, filed a police report stating that his daughter did not turn up at her school in Singapore.

Kumar said initial investigations found that the girl was brought to Malaysia through the Woodlands checkpoint on Nov 24.

“Acting on intelligence and public tip-offs, officers from Johor’s criminal investigation department raided a premises in Kuantan, Pahang, yesterday,” he said in a statement.

“The 22-year-old suspect, a Chinese national, was also arrested at the same location where the victim was found.

“Several items believed to have been used in the abduction were seized,” he said, adding that the victim would be sent to hospital for a medical examination.

Kumar said the suspect would be remanded for seven days starting today.

He said the case is being investigated under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 for physical sexual assault, Section 48(2) of the Child Act 2001 for concealing a child, and Section 361 of the Penal Code for kidnapping from lawful guardianship.