A four-month-old baby in Ho Chi Minh City has sustained severe injuries after being babysat by their father for three hours.

The baby, C.M.K., was admitted to the Children’s Hospital 2 in the city’s District 1 on February 4 with several injuries on multiple body parts including the ears, arms, chest, belly, and face.

X-ray results showed that K. had a third of their right femur fractured and suffered from a brain hemorrhage.

Police in District 9, where K. is living with their mother Nguyen Hong Tim, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Thursday that they are working with Chau Minh Tien, a 24-year-old man residing in the same district, to clarify the cause of K.’s injuries.

According to 21-year-old Tim, Tien is K.’s father.

Four-month-old C.M.K. lies on a hospital bed undergoing traction at the Children’s Hospital 2 in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Minh Hoa / Tuoi Tre

Tim and Tien had been in a relationship in 2015 before the man was sent to a rehab center by his family one year later for using addictive substances.

After Tien was discharged from the rehab center in 2018, Tim and Tien moved in together and Tim became pregnant with K.

During Tim’s pregnancy, Tien would frequently abuse her verbally and physically. The beating persisted even after K. was born.

After putting up with the abuse for a long time, Tim finally decided she had had enough and moved out to a rental room in District 9 with K. on January 20.

Four-month-old C.M.K. lies on a hospital bed undergoing traction at the Children’s Hospital 2 in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Minh Hoa / Tuoi Tre

At 9:00 pm on February 3, Le Thi Le, Tim’s mother, sent K. to Tien and asked him to babysit the baby without telling Tim or any other.

It was not until 12:00 am on February 4 that Chau Minh Hieu, Tien’s father, found out K. was staying with Tien and that the baby had wounds and injuries all over their body.

Hieu then, together with Tien, took K. to the Children’s Hospital 2. Tim was only informed of her child's hospitalization at 10:00 am that day.

According to doctors at the hospital, K. is currently undergoing traction for their leg injuries for two to three weeks before the baby can take a plaster cast.

Nguyen Hong Tim takes care of her four-month-old baby, who lies on a hospital bed undergoing traction at the Children’s Hospital 2 in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Minh Hoa / Tuoi Tre

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