Three-Year-Old Girl Suffocates To Death After Members Of Her FamilyLay On Top Of Her During Exorcism Ritual

A three-year-old Malaysian girl has died after seven members of her family allegedly suffocated her during an exorcism ritual.

A police report said the tragedy occurred at the home of the child's parents in the town of Bukit Mertajam, 280 kilometres north of Kuala Lumpur.

Both parents, a grandmother, an uncle, two cousins of the victim and an Indonesian maid have been arrested, and investigators are treating the case as murder.

ACP Azman Abd Lah, police chief of the Seberang Perai Tengah district, said an uncle of the victim had discovered the horrific abuse by chance.

'The witness, who became suspiciousthat the main door of the house was not locked, immediately went to the first floor of the house wherethe master bedroom was located,' he said.

'When the uncle found that room door was locked and the people inside refused to open the door, he immediately informed the police about it.'