Student victims of alleged sexual assault by party leader will be given assistance, says Johor exco rep

KULAI: The Johor Education Department will provide assistance to three secondary school students who are among the six victims of sexual abuse allegedly by a political party youth leader.

State education and information committee chairman Aznan Tamin added that the male victims would be given counselling sessions.

“The Johor Education Department is managing it,” he told the media after a working visit to SMK Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra here on Thursday (March 21).

The Tanjung Surat assemblyman, however, declined to comment further as the case was still being investigated by the police.

On Wednesday (March 20), six male victims, including two brothers, came forward to claim that a youth leader from a political party had sexually abused them.

Police said the 36-year-old youth leader is expected to be released on Thursday (March 21) after a remand order expires.

Mersing OCPD Supt Abdul Razak Abdullah Sani said police received five reports from the six male victims, who are between 15 and 21 years old.

“After the suspect was arrested, more victims came forward.

“At present, six male victims, aged 15 to 21 years old, have lodged five police reports against the same suspect.

“He was placed under a three-day remand which ends today, and he will be released from police custody,” he said in a statement.

He added that the suspect, who is the leader of a political party's youth wing in the Mersing district, was investigated under Section 377C of the Penal Code for committing carnal intercourse against the order of nature without the victims’ consent, which carries a maximum of 20 years in jail and whipping, if found guilty.

Police have thus far not revealed the identity of the suspect.

Supt Abdul Razak urged members of the public not to speculate on the case which could disrupt the investigations and court proceedings.

He also encouraged those with more information on the case to contact the Mersing IPD Hotline at 07-799 6224.