Police say suspect confessed to killing six-year-old boy after allegedly sexually assaulting him
A court judge on Thursday remanded the main suspect in the alleged sexual assault and murder of a six-year-old boy in Karachi’s Old City to police custody for five days after investigators said he confessed to the crime.
The child disappeared outside his home on Monday night and his decomposed body, stuffed in a sack, was found near his house the following night.
Napier police produced the suspect, identified as Hamza, in court under tight security with his face covered. The investigating officer sought a 14-day physical remand, saying more time was needed to interrogate the suspect. However, the District Judge (South) granted five days of physical custody and directed the police to submit a status report at the next court hearing.
Read: Suspect arrested after missing 6-year-old boy found raped, murdered in Karachi’s Old City
Police surgeon Dr. Sumaiyya confirmed that the child had been sexually assaulted and had also suffered a fractured skull.
A case was registered at Napier police station on the complaint of the victim’s father. The police initially filed the First Information Report under Section 3 of the Prevention of Trafficking in Persons Act, 2018 and Section 364-A (kidnapping or abduction of a person below 14 years) of the Pakistan Penal Code. However, the investigating officer said sections relating to murder and rape were later added to the FIR.
According to investigators, the suspect was the child’s neighbor and known to the family. Police said the boy trusted Hamza and often asked him to buy him snacks.
Investigators claimed the suspect took advantage of a funeral in the neighborhood on Monday, where many residents had turned out to attend the last rites of a resident, and lured the child to his apartment.
During questioning, the suspect allegedly confessed to sexually assaulting the child and choking him after the boy started crying. Investigators further claimed that he admitted to sexually assaulting the child’s body after the murder.
According to investigators, the suspect told police he killed the child because he feared the boy might identify him. They said he then stuffed the body into a sack, wrapped it in a blanket and hid it inside a wardrobe.
Police and residents searched the suspect’s apartment three times after the child’s disappearance, but were unable to locate the body, investigators said.
Also read: Abducted boy found murdered
According to police, the suspect later became disturbed as suspicion among residents grew and joined the search for the missing boy to divert attention from himself. CCTV footage showed the child had not left the neighbourhood, prompting investigators to focus on the residents of the street.
Police said the suspect later threw the body from the window of his apartment in an attempt to dispose of it, where it was discovered by local residents. Officers said the suspect was alone in the apartment when they arrived.
During questioning, the suspect claimed that other people were involved in the crime. However, investigators said they believed he made false claims to mislead the investigation. The police are also examining his previous criminal record and investigating whether he may have been involved in similar crimes against other children.
