KOTA KINABALU: Crimes involving pupils that might initially seem petty can escalate and become part of a larger pattern of criminal behaviour if not dealt with properly, warn the police.
Kota Kinabalu OCPD Asst Comm Kasim Muda said when someone is aware of a crime but chooses to stay silent, and something more serious emerges as a result, the situation could turn worse for the suspects, victims and the person who turned a blind eye.He was commenting on the recent arrest of eight people, aged between 14 and 38, who were hauled in for an investigation into a rape case involving a 15-year-old student.
He revealed that the victim and some of the suspects knew each other and were from a school known for disciplinary problems.
He claimed that the students were involved in crimes including fighting, and that the school authorities chose to cover up the cases to protect the school’s image instead of addressing the issue.
“We have been speaking to the school principal and district education officials about the ongoing issues at this school because there have been persistent attempts to keep these incidents a secret.
“I asked the principal why there was a need to keep the recurring crimes a secret since they are criminal acts. The answer given was because they need to protect the school’s image,” he said.
ACP Kasim said the school and education authorities should not keep mum about the problems and they should inform the police.
He said teachers, educators and parents bore the responsibility to inform the authorities of any crime, as hiding information was an offence in itself.
He said teachers must be diligent and parents must be proactive regarding the discipline and behaviour of their children, as a child’s welfare and safety should be the priority in decision-making.
