Kuala Lumpur - Malaysian police have detained a Singaporean man and his wife, a Thai national, after his young stepson was found dead in his home with bruises on the body, hands, legs and head, a news report said Monday.

The victim, an 8-year old boy, was believed to have been abused before he died, said deputy district police chief Mohamad Akhir Ishak.

Neighbours called police Saturday afternoon after they heard a commotion in the boy's home in the southern Johor state, the Star daily reported.

"We discovered the body in the back room of the apartment," said Mohamad Akhir, adding that the post mortem result showed that the boy died from multiple injuries especially from those inflicted on the head.

He said initial investigations showed that the boy was believed to have been abused by the 31-year old stepfather, who used a feather duster. dpa