KUANTAN: A mother has claimed that her 14-year-old son and another Form Two student were assaulted by five students at a religious school hostel in Bukit Ibam, Rompin, resulting in injuries to various parts of their bodies.
Siti Rohani Yusof, 40, said the first incident occurred at about midnight on Sept 12 when the two students were called into a hostel room, had their heads covered and were allegedly beaten, with her son assaulted for about two hours and his friend for about two-and-a-half hours.
"My son did not dare to tell anyone after the incident for fear of being beaten again. Only on Tuesday did he inform the warden and teachers about what happened.
"He also pleaded to sleep at the warden's house as he was afraid the incident would recur, but was not allowed to," she said when met here Saturday (Sept 19).
She said her son was allegedly assaulted again on Sept 15 by the same students using a broomstick, with one holding the stick while another kicked him.
She said her son then contacted his father, who informed the warden, before she went to the school the following day.
She said the senior students allegedly kicked, pinched, slapped and punched her son, besides hitting him with a broomstick.
Her son was later taken to Muadzam Shah Hospital for a medical examination, including X-rays, after a police report was lodged at the Muadzam Shah police station.
Siti Rohani said she had also requested police to investigate the hostel management, including the school and warden's actions in handling the incident.
"I want this matter to be investigated transparently and for the relevant authorities to take the initiative to prevent such incidents from happening again, as well as ensuring the safety and welfare of students in the hostel are guaranteed," she said.
She also claimed that after the matter was shared in the school's boys' hostel (Aspura) parents' group, more students came forward to share their experiences, and she understood that about 16 students had been victims of similar incidents.
Siti Rohani said she had decided to transfer her son to another school due to concerns over his safety.
Meanwhile, Rompin OCPD Supt Sharif Shai Sharif Mondoi confirmed that police had received a report regarding a fight involving two Form Two students at a boys' hostel of a religious school in Bukit Ibam.
He said preliminary investigations found that the incident occurred at about 12.01am on Sept 12 after both victims were called to a hostel room by five male students, comprising three Form Five students and two Form Four students.
"The cause of the incident was that the first victim skipped religious lectures, while the second victim was complicit with the first. Both victims were beaten by all the suspects," he said in a statement Saturday.
Supt Sharif Shai said the first victim suffered injuries to both arms, while the second victim sustained injuries to his body.
He added that all five suspects were detained before being released on police bail, with the case being investigated under Section 147 of the Penal Code. - Bernama
