A nine-year-old boy allegedly suffered bruises to several parts of his body and face after being assaulted by a 15-year-old senior student at the religious school where he was studying.
The victim’s father, Syamsul Azrin Man, 45, said he only discovered what had allegedly happened when he picked up his only son for a week-long school break on July 30.
He said there were initially no obvious signs of injury on the boy’s face. However, after noticing the bruises and questioning his son, the child initially claimed that he had fallen before eventually revealing that he had allegedly been punched by the senior student a day earlier.
“My son told me he was punched while wiping tables at the canteen. He also said he was kicked in the back, leaving bruises.
“I immediately contacted one of the ustaz at the tahfiz school, but he said he was unaware of the incident,” Syamsul Azrin told reporters on Monday.
The parents subsequently lodged a police report on the same day and took their son to Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital for further medical examination.
Syamsul Azrin said doctors found that the boy had suffered bruising, but his emotional condition was a greater concern as he had become traumatised and was now afraid to return to school because of the alleged bully.
He said he and his wife had previously noticed bruises and a bump on their son’s head but accepted his explanation that he had fallen.
“Only later did he tell us that he had been punched, kicked and that his head had been pressed against the stairs by the same senior student,” he said.
The father also expressed dissatisfaction with the school’s disciplinary action, claiming that his son was removed from the school following the incident while the senior student was only suspended.
Meanwhile, Kota Setar district police chief Assistant Commissioner Syed Basri Syed Ali said the case was being investigated under Section 323 of the Penal Code.
Police have recorded a statement from the senior student and are currently awaiting the victim’s medical report before deciding on further action.
