ALOR SETAR: The three secondary school students allegedly involved in the rape and distribution of pornographic material will be expelled from school, said the Kedah Education Department.
In a statement, the department said an internal investigation has begun, with stern action promised against the offenders.
“The Education Ministry will not compromise on any form of sexual misconduct in educational institutions.
“We are working to improve every aspect to ensure the safety and well-being of all members of the education community,” said the department, which added it is now focused on ensuring the victim’s well-being.
“The case is under police investigation, and the State Education Department is cooperating with the police,” it said.
It was reported that a woman lodged a police report at about 11am on Sunday after being informed by a disciplinary teacher about the circulation of a video clip depicting her 15-year-old daughter in the nude.
Police then detained the three students and one other who was a dropout of the school to in assist investigation.
It was learnt that the suspects, aged between 15 and 17, were allegedly involved in sexual acts with the victim between May and August.
Meanwhile, Kedah police chief Comm Datuk Adzli Abu Shah said investigations found that the 15-year-old victim had engaged in sexual intercourse with each of the four suspects separately, in what he added was a case of statutory rape.
“The victim has engaged in sexual intercourse with all the suspects separately at different locations, including at a classroom during the afternoon when no other students were present, a palm oil estate and at the victim’s home,” he said.
He said the videos seized by police did not depict sexual intercourse between the suspects and the victim, but showed other “immoral acts” involving the teenagers.
“Although the acts were on a consensual basis, the victim is underaged, and cannot be considered mature enough to understand the consequences,” he said.
He said initial checks found no commercial motive behind the circulated videos, but they were shared irresponsibly, including by the victim herself.
He added that several phones belonging to the suspects and the victim were seized for forensic analysis, with the suspects remanded for five days for investigation under Section 376 of the Penal Code for rape and Section 8 of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act for sharing child pornography.
