Barat Daya police chief Sazalee Adam said the teacher had checked on the girl’s body after she appeared to be in pain while in school yesterday. The principal lodged a police report after being informed by the teacher.

Sazalee said police arrested the parents, aged 49 and 47, who work as a manager and engineer at two different factories and do not have a criminal record.

He said the investigation showed that the girl had been caned on the back for placing food in her wardrobe, Harian Metro reported.

The incident occurred at their condominium unit in Sungai Ara, where police seized a cane believed to have been used to beat the victim.

Sazalee said the girl, the couple’s second child, also claimed that she was regularly beaten by her parents and had even been locked up in a cage meant for dogs about two years ago.

The girl is being treated at Penang Hospital.