Utusan Malaysia reported that the suspect, who was detained at the Melaka police headquarters at about 6.30pm yesterday, was issued the remand order until May 20 by magistrate Teoh Shu Yee.

He is being investigated under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 for sexual assault.

The suspect is believed to have picked up the victim from a boarding school in Melaka at about 11am on May 4 after she received permission to leave.

He then took her for a walk around the Alor Gajah area before allegedly molesting her in the car.

The alleged incident came to light on Sunday when the girl’s mother checked her daughter’s phone and found messages with the suspect.

The teenager, who admitted to saving the suspect’s phone number, had communicated with him on WhatsApp frequently and admitted to meeting him several times.

The two, who are neighbours, are believed to have met often at a playground in Taman Ayer Molek Perdana, Kuala Sungai Baru, since January.

Her mother filed a report at the Kuala Sungai Baru police station and the victim was sent to Melaka Hospital for further examination.