16-5-2023 (Kuala Lumpur) Founder and caretaker of a tahfiz center in Tanjung Minyak and Alor Gajah have been remanded for four days in connection with allegations of sexual abuse, unnatural sexual acts, and physical abuse against six students.
The remand order until May 16 was issued by Magistrate Nurul Bahiyah Kamaluddin upon the police’s request under Section 117 of the Criminal Procedure Code to complete investigations under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 and Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001.
Earlier, the two Singaporean suspects, aged 40 and 36, arrived at Ayer Keroh Court Complex at 9:35 am and gestured ‘OK’ to the media while being accompanied by police officers entering the remand room.
Yesterday, Harian Metro reported that both suspects, a 40-year-old owner or director of the Quran guidance center, and his 36-year-old brother who also served as a hostel warden, were arrested at the tahfiz center in Tanjung Minyak between 1 pm and 1:30 pm.
The arrests followed the police receiving six reports filed by parents of the six students, aged between 13 and 15, between 6:29 pm and 9:13 pm yesterday at the Batang Tiga Police Station, here.
According to the reports, three victims claimed to have been sexually abused, including being kissed and molested by the 40-year-old suspect.
Meanwhile, the remaining three victims were physically abused by the second suspect, who is also a warden, through slapping, punching, stepping on, and caning, simply for being slow in completing tasks, including cleaning the tahfiz area.
All incidents were reported to have taken place at the tahfiz guidance center in Tanjung Minyak, Alor Gajah, and a condominium in Klebang, Melaka.
