KOTA KINABALU: Three teenage boys have been detained to assist investigations into alleged sexual offences involving a 14-year-old female student in Tawau.
Tawau district police chief Asst Comm Jasmin Hussin said a Criminal Investigation Division team arrested two suspects, aged 14 and 17, at about 11.50am on Monday (April 27).
He said the third suspect, also 17, was arrested later the same day at Tawau police headquarters.
"The arrests were made following a police report received regarding allegations of sexual crimes against the victim at different locations around the district from November last year until February this year," he said in a statement on Tuesday (April 28).
"Initial investigations found the victim was believed to have been involved in several incidents with different suspects, including at residential areas and public premises," he added.
Jasmin said another individual is also being investigated in connection with a separate incident at a school, where the victim was allegedly forced to perform indecent acts.
He said the case is being investigated under Section 376(1) of the Penal Code and Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017.
"We are still conducting interrogations and recording statements before referring the case to the prosecution," he said.
Jasmin advised parents and guardians to monitor their children's movements and social interactions to prevent them from being exposed to the risk of sexual crimes.
