JOHOR BARU: An 8-year-old boy was found dead on his bed on Saturday, believed to have been physically abused by a relative.

The body of Wakorn Sukuntha, a Thai, was discovered by police in a unit of the Pulai View Apartments, Taman Kobena, Tampoi, about 4pm.

The 31-year-old relative, a Singaporean, and his 32-year-old wife were arrested, said Northern Johor Baru district deputy police chief Superintendent Mohd Akhir Ishak.

Police were tipped off at 3.20pm that a Thai boy had earlier died in the apartment.

Akhir said the boy's hands, legs and back were covered with bruises.

The boy's relative was fired from a factory last month and is unemployed. His wife is a housewife.

The couple have a 6-month-old daughter.

"We found that the boy's head had wounds and his body was covered with lash marks as if he had been beaten with a rattan stick," said Akhir.

He believed the boy was abused by the relative from Wednesday until about 1pm on Thursday, an hour before his death.

"The couple are under remand until Jan 3."