SANDAKAN, MALAYSIA: A stepfather was arrested for allegedly raping his three-year-old stepdaughter.

Sandakan district police chief Asst Comm Rosli Mohd Isa confirmed the arrest of a local man in his 30s at his house in Kampung Karamunting and said that police were investigating the man for incest.

The incident came to light when the victim's aunt took the child to a private clinic after the victim had a fever at about 11am on Saturday.

The clinic immediately referred the child to Duchess of Kent Hospital for further medical examination on suspecting abuse.

A medical examination indicated that the child had an infection and her stepfather was suspected of sexually abusing her.

The aunt lodged a police report and the stepfather was arrested at 11.45pm on Saturday.