Police arrest six 17-year-olds over bullying of 14-year-old student in Muar

JOHOR BAHRU, June 28 — Six male students, aged 17, have been arrested to assist in investigations into a bullying incident involving a 14-year-old student at a school in Muar last May.

Johor Police Chief Datuk Ab Rahaman Arsad said the boys were arrested in Muar and Alor Gajah, Melaka, between 1.30 am and 2.12 am today, following a report lodged yesterday.

In a statement today, he said checks showed that all the students had no prior criminal records and that they had been remanded for two days until tomorrow to assist in investigations under Sections 323 and 507B of the Penal Code.

Ab Rahaman said police were also probing possible elements of neglect involving the hostel warden and school management as the incident occurred in a dormitory, with the investigation being conducted under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001.

He said the victim claimed he was beaten on the chest, sustained bruises around the eyes after being struck on the head and was forced to hand over money to the suspects, who are senior students at the school.

“As a result of the incident, the victim suffered emotional stress and trauma, which led him to quit school,” he added.

Ab Rahaman urged any other students who may have been victims of bullying by the same group of students to come forward and lodge police reports to assist in investigations.

He said the police took the bullying incident at the school seriously and would conduct a transparent and fair investigation. — Bernama