A statement from its strategic management and corporate communication centre said UMS would not compromise on any of its staff or students who are found involved in wrongdoings, particularly ones that were of a criminal nature.

“In relation to the case involving a personnel from the security division, the UMS management deems it as a heinous crime and had acted fast in reporting the matter to the police without any intention of protecting the suspect.

“Following the report, the UMS management has also given its cooperation and left the case completely for the authorities to duly investigate and prosecute,” the statement said.

At the same time, the management had taken action against the suspect and he was no longer a UMS staff, it added.

The management had asked that the matter not be sensationalised out of concern that it could interfere with the probe and court proceedings, the statement said.

The UMS management, through the student affairs department, had extended all assistance needed by the victim’s family, especially in their effort to support and heal the victim from the emotional and psychological trauma due to the incident, it said.

The statement added that UMS had also helped the victim continue her studies.

A Sabah-based portal recently published a report claiming that UMS had tried to cover up the alleged incident in order to protect the suspect.

The report also alleged a UMS deputy vice-chancellor had a hand in hushing up the matter.

A local, Arshad Masdin, was charged with the attempted rape of a student at a hostel in UMS at midnight on July 15, but he claimed trial before Sessions Court judge Ainul Shahrin Mohamad recently.

Arshad, who has two children, had been working as a security guard at the university for about a year.

Ainul had set Aug 29 for case management.