Police have detained seven secondary school students to assist investigations into the alleged assault of a 13-year-old schoolgirl, who was reportedly beaten by five other female students in an incident that has since gone viral on social media.
Kota Kinabalu acting district police chief Superintendent Syed Lot Syed Ab Rahman said the suspects, aged between 15 and 17, comprise six female students and one male student who were arrested at about 3pm on Thursday.
He said the male student is believed to have recorded the entire incident, with the video later circulating widely online.
All seven students have since been released on police bail while investigations continue.
Authorities are probing the case under Section 147 of the Penal Code for rioting and Section 506 for criminal intimidation.
The investigation was initiated after a video surfaced showing a female student being assaulted by five others in an area believed to be in the city centre at around 8am on May 22.
The victim sustained bruises to her shoulders, legs and left ear, as well as a minor injury to her knee, and lodged a police report the following day.
Initial findings suggest the assault may have stemmed from a misunderstanding between the students, who reportedly knew each other through a WhatsApp group called “Angel”.
Police said the students involved are believed to be from several different schools in Kota Kinabalu, and investigations are ongoing to determine the full circumstances of the incident.
