Cops taking rape threat allegation against 17-year-old seriously

KUALA LUMPUR: Bukit Aman says it is not taking an alleged rape threat against a teenage girl lightly and has denied media reports that Datuk Seri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani was dismissive of her claims.

Inspector-General of Police corporate communications secretariat Supt Skandaguru Anandan claimed that two media agencies had inaccurately reported the statement made by Acryl Sani about the rape threat against the teenager.

"The titles of both articles are very confusing as it gives an inaccurate picture of the true statement made during the press conference," said.

He said the two reports gave the impression that the Deputy IGP had conveyed that the rape threat might be "a joke".

Referring to a transcript of the press conference on Monday (April 26), Supt Skandaguru said that Acryl Sani mentioned that the student had lodged two reports.

What Acryl Sani said was; "The first report was linked to what she felt was an improper approach by the teacher.

"Secondly, yesterday (Sunday, April 25), she made an additional report connected to what was maybe a joke by one of her classmates which she could not accept," Acryl Sani had said.

On the Deputy IGP's "maybe a joke" comment, Supt Skandaguru said he was referring to what was being investigated and did not mean that the issue was "just a joke", as portrayed by the two reports.

He described it as "an irresponsible act" that could "taint the credibility of the police" and "raise negative speculation about the victim".

Supt Skandaguru added that the police take every report lodged seriously and are always committed to conduct a thorough investigation.

The 17-year-old student on Friday had alleged that a male teacher made jokes about rape during a physical and health education class at her school in Selangor.

She said the inappropriate remarks were made while students were discussing sexual harassment during the lesson.

After the classroom incident, the student supposedly complained to the school's counsellor.

The girl's father told a news portal that he was going to lodge a police report on Saturday night.

Expressing his disappointment over the teachers' insensitivity, he also said he would go to the school to meet with the management.