Tahfiz centre founders, warden remanded in sex, physical abuse case in Melaka
13 May 2023 05:40pm
One of the suspects appeared cheerful while escorted by cops and even gestured signs like 'okay' and 'good' towards the reporters. - Astro Awani photo
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The remand that starts today was issued by Magistrate Nurul Bahiyah Kamaluddin of Ayer Keroh Court against the two men, aged 40 and 36.
Police will carry out probe under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 and Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001.
Earlier, both suspects, who are Singaporean citizens, arrived at the Ayer Keroh Court Complex at 9:35 am wearing orange lock-up attire.
One of the suspects appeared cheerful while escorted by cops and even gestured signs like 'okay' and 'good' towards the reporters.
Yesterday, the state's Police Chief Datuk Zainol Samah said the heinous incident came to light after the police received reports from the six victims between 6:29pm and 9:13pm last Thursday at the Batang Tiga Police Station.
Preliminary investigations has revealed that the incidents occurred at a tahfiz centre in Tanjung Minyak and Alor Gajah and at a condominium in Klebang, Melaka.
In one incident, three students were forced to engage in sexual activities with the 40-year-old suspect, the director of the tahfiz center.
"Meanwhile, the other three students were physically abused, slapped, punched, kicked, and beaten with a cane by the warden, who is also the sibling of the centre's founder's and director," he said.
The victims were also reportedly abused by the dormitory warden for being late in completing assigned tasks.
It is said that the founder of the tahfiz centre has a previous record of sexual and physical abuse in 2019, while his sibling has no criminal record. - Awani
