Duo held for sex abuse

MELAKA: Two Singaporean brothers have been detained on suspicion of committing sexual assault and physical abuse on six boys in two religious schools here.

Melaka police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Zainol Samah said the suspects were 40 and 36 years old, respectively.

“The elder brother, who is the principal of two schools here, had allegedly performed sexual acts on three of the teenage boys.

“The younger sibling, who is the warden, had supposedly abused three other boys physically,” he said yesterday.

DCP Zainol said six police reports were received between 6.30pm and 9.13pm on Thursday regarding the alleged wrongdoings of the two siblings at both centres.

He said the boys, aged between 13 and 15 years old, claimed that they were slapped, whipped and assaulted by the younger brother while the elder brother had forced them to perform sexual acts.

“The boys claimed that they were also brought to a condominium in Klebang here by the elder brother to allegedly perform sexual acts on them,” he said.

DCP Zainol said police had initiated investigations under Section 14(1) of Sexual Offence Against Children 2017 and Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001.

“We consider the case involving children as a serious offence and stern action will be taken against the perpetrators,” he said.

DCP Zainol added that the older suspect also had previous criminal records relating to sexual offences.

The suspects are expected to be produced at the Ayer Keroh Magistrate’s Court today to be remanded.