Child seeking attention in the wrong way?

Got this from the Star.

Last week, many people thought she was kidnapped and was released after the parents seek help from the media. But turns out it is not what it seems to be.

Girl lied about abduction, abuse claim
By BERNARD SEE

PENANG: Ten-year-old Recka almost had the whole country fooled when she made up a story about being abducted from a VCD shop in Market Street by a woman last week.

George Town OCPD Asst Comm Azam Abd Hamid said the girl had approached a woman and told her that she was afraid to go home as her mother would beat her for playing in the rain.

“The woman, whom she befriended a few weeks earlier at the shop, took pity on her and gave her shelter at her Bandar Baru Air Itam home on Monday.

“She stayed with the woman for three days. She then felt guilty and went home when she saw her mother in the media crying and appealing to her ‘abductors’ for her safe return.

“She took a bus to Chulia Street where she was spotted by a man who handed her over to the police at about 10pm on Thursday,” he said yesterday.

ACP Azam said the police are concerned about the girl’s “state of mind,” adding that she would be sent for psychiatric evaluation at the Penang Hospital.

“Her claims of being abused by her mother were also not true as the medical check-up showed no signs of any injuries. She is a bright and healthy kid with an over- active imagination.

“We have already interviewed the woman, who took her home, and the man who found her. Statements were also taken from the parents.

“Our investigations papers have already been handed over to the deputy public prosecutor’s office for further action,” he said when met at his office.

Recka’s stepfather Ahmad Omar, 49, said he and his wife would be handing over the little girl to the Welfare Department as they found it hard to control her.

“I love her a lot but my wife and I cannot be keeping an eye on her all the time as we need to work in order to feed our family of six other children.

“I want what is best for her as I cannot be locking her up in the house. I feel that the state would be able to take better care of her,” he said when met at his Kampong Kolam home.