Police have arrested the caretaker of a welfare home in Ampang Jaya who is believed to have sexually abused underprivileged and orphan girls in his care.

According to a report in the Sun, the 55-year-old suspect is accused of molesting and taking nude photos of the girls, aged between 10 and 12, when they were having their bath or changing clothes.

One 12-year-old victim had confided in her mother that she was allegedly molested and raped numerous times. The mother then filed a police report.

The report claimed that another caretaker, a woman in her 20s, was aware of the alleged sexual abuse but chose to remain silent.

The suspect went into hiding when police reports were lodged against him some two weeks ago, accusing him of sexually assaulting two 12-year-old girls – one from the home and another case involving a victim in Jinjang, Kuala Lumpur.

He was arrested in Klang on Jan 4. Both Kuala Lumpur and Selangor police are investigating the case.

"He is being investigated under Section 14 of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act.

“We expect to charge him in court soon after Selangor police conclude their investigations," Kuala Lumpur police CID chief Rusdi Mohd Isa told the Sun.

The suspect is currently under remand for seven days to facilitate investigations.

Selangor police CID chief Fadzil Ahmat said the state police have identified two victims so far – one who was raped, and the other who was molested and subjected to voyeurism while she was bathing.

“We are gathering evidence on the cases and are checking if there are more children were victimised by the suspect," he added.

Police have also recorded a statement from the female caretaker and are interviewing other residents of the home.