SEREMBAN: A second Form Four student has been remanded over the death of a Form Two boy at a Kuala Pilah school hostel, says Deputy Comm Datuk Alzafny Ahmad.
The Negri Sembilan police chief said the 16-year-old was brought before a Kuala Pilah Magistrate's Court on Monday (Sept 28) and remanded for six days until Oct 3.
Both suspects are 16-year-old Form Four students in the same hostel block as the 14-year-old victim.
DCP Alzafny said the assault was believed to be a follow-up punishment by seniors after the victim was caught vaping by a hostel warden on Sept 23.
On the night of Sept 25, after Maghrib prayers, the first suspect allegedly told the second suspect to bring the victim to his dormitory on the second floor.
He said the second suspect first hit the victim in the victim's own dormitory on the first floor.
The victim was then allegedly told to fetch a rubber hose from the bathroom, made to sit and struck on the soles of his feet several times.
He was then allegedly made to stand, remove his shirt and was hit with bare hands on his chest and back until he collapsed, Alzafny told a press conference at the state police headquarters on Tuesday (Sept 29).
Police displayed the hose and the vape at the press conference.
DCP Alzafny said the boy was placed on a bed and given some breathing assistance by a suspect before the warden was alerted. He was pronounced dead at the hospital.
"We cannot determine whether the victim died in the hostel or on the way to the hospital," he said.
He said Form Five students were away at a camp that night, leaving Form Four students the most senior in the hostel, and the evening study session did not take place.
He said several students had since come forward claiming the first suspect had also bullied them, although the school had no previous police report of bullying.
"We are still investigating and gathering statements on these claims," he said.
The post-mortem found the cause of death undetermined, and police are awaiting results from the Chemistry Department.
DCP Alzafny said no bleeding was seen when police viewed the body, but internal injuries such as fractures could not be ruled out.
Statements have been recorded from 68 witnesses. Police found the assault was carried out by the two suspects, and witness accounts so far are consistent.
Asked about a meeting with the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negri Sembilan, Alzafny said it was a closed-door discussion and declined to comment.
"Our duty and responsibility is to maintain safety, whether it is an order from Tuanku or any other party," he said.
He reminded the public that publishing information identifying children in criminal cases is an offence under Section 15 of the Child Act 2001.
