In a three-paragraph statement posted on its website, the AGC said it viewed the matter seriously.

“The AGC will wait for the outcome of the probe and will give due consideration to the matter,” it said.

Yesterday, Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar said investigators were looking into the possibility that Civil Defence Force (APM) trainers “tortured” the pupils from a school in Kuala Kangsar, Perak.

Khalid had said the incident should not have happened as the participants were children.

“In my opinion, there was an element of torture as the training was supposed to be for pupils, not for commandos,” he said.

Khalid, however, did not say under what provision of the law the investigation was being carried out.

He also urged the individual who recorded the incident to come forward to assist police in the investigation.

A video showing girls aged between the ages of 10 and 12, screaming and crying after they were asked to get into a muddy pit with pythons in it went viral earlier this week.

The incident took place at APM’s headquarters in Kuala Kangsar last weekend, during a three-day motivational camp for primary pupils of SK Beluru.

The APM has since distanced itself from the incident, saying the use of animals was not in its module. It has also suspended 10 of its staff – four coaches and six assistants – who were involved in the course.

APM’s deputy commissioner Roslan Wahab apologised to the pupils and their parents, saying the incident “should not have happened”.