5 arrested over alleged sodomy, abuse at Merbok tahfiz school

5 arrested over alleged sodomy, abuse at Merbok tahfiz school

Police say the suspects have been released on bail while they continue with their probe.

abuse
Police have summoned the school’s management to give statements over the sodomy allegations.
PETALING JAYA:
Five people have been arrested to assist police in investigating allegations that a student at a tahfiz school in Merbok, Sungai Petani, was abused and sodomised in June.

Kuala Muda police chief Wan Azharuddin Wan Ismail said follow-up action had been taken after they received a report, Astro Awani reported.

“We have detained four people to assist in the investigation under Section 377C of the Penal Code for sodomy or unnatural intercourse.

“Another person was detained under Section 31(1) of the Child Act 2001. All of them have been released on police bail.

“Police are still continuing with the investigation, and the management of the tahfiz school has also been called to give their statement,” he said.

Meanwhile, Kedah education, religion, communication and information committee chairman Azam Abd Samat said he was leaving it to the police to investigate the matter.

“I was informed by the Kedah Islamic religious affairs department’s (JHEAIK) education division  that they had already conducted their own investigation at the tahfiz school.

“JHEAIK was informed that the student’s parents had lodged a police report, so the department cannot intervene as it is a police investigation,” he said.

Yesterday, a video went viral on TikTok where the account owner made a number of allegations, including that students at the tahfiz school had been physically and sexually abused, and deprived of food.

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