IPOH: A 56-year-old principal of a school in Bagan Datuk, who went viral following allegations of sexually harassing a student, has lodged a police report over a video showing him being confronted by the girl's family.
Perak police chief Comm Datuk Mohd Alwi Zainal Abidin said the man lodged the report on Sunday (Oct 25), a day after the victim's family filed one of its own.
He said the principal was dissatisfied with the viral video, which showed him being allegedly attacked by the family of a Form Three student, and also reported the assault.
"The case is being investigated under Section 323 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 for improper use of network facilities and services," Comm Alwi told reporters at state police contingent headquarters here on Tuesday (Oct 27).
"We will conduct a thorough investigation as it involves a civil servant.
"In this case, we found that the victim's family attacked the principal (over) allegations that he had called the student to express his love and affection, as mentioned previously."
He said statements from nine witnesses had been recorded so far, including the principal.
Comm Alwi added that following a report lodged by the victim's mother, the case was also being investigated under Section 15(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017.
Earlier, Education Minister Datuk Seri Fadhlina Sidek had directed the state Education Department to investigate allegations that the principal sexually harassed a student.
Fadhlina said that the principal had also been temporarily transferred to the Bagan Datuk district Education Office pending the outcome of the department probe.
The allegations involved sexual harassment and romantic messages purportedly sent by the principal to a Form Three girl, as well as claims of an illicit relationship.
In the viral video, a man believed to be the principal is seen facing several women asking for an explanation from him.
