Peeping Toms target teachers

MALACCA: Two 14-year-old boys climbed up to the ceiling of a top school here and waited there for hours to record videos of female teachers using the toilet.

It is believed that the boys, who are in Form Two, took close to a dozen pictures and videos of the teachers.

The boys climbed up to the ceiling of their own toilet before making their way to the space above the women’s room to film the teachers through a gap during school hours.

However, they were caught red-handed on April 27 after a teacher heard noises from the ceiling and shouted, prompting others to run to her aid.

Questioned by the disciplinary teacher and four other staff members, the boys admitted that they had been carrying out their activities since the beginning of last month.

The duo have been suspended from the school and their parents were informed of the disciplinary action the same day.

One of the teachers, 51, also lodged a police report over fears that the videos and pictures could have been uploaded online.

“The teachers are afraid that the case might affect their reputation,” State Education, Science and Technology and Innovation Committee chairman Datuk Wira Md Yunos Husin said.

“We can’t sweep the matter under the carpet as this involves staff at a top school,” he added, urging police to take action against the culprits.

Md Yunos also assured the teachers that the state government would work closely with the authorities to ensure that none of the pictures or the videos were circulated online.

Melaka Tengah police said they would record statements from all the affected teachers and meet with the school management soon.

When contacted, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Idris Haron said both teachers and parents should ensure that children were instilled with the right values.

“We want an in-depth investigation into this case,” he said.

Idris added that schools should provide separate toilets for teachers and students that were far away from each other.

He also called for prefects to be placed to monitor the situation nearby.