MINISTRY TO GIVE FULL COOPERATION
13 suspected of beating student to death to be probed for murder
THE Education Ministry will provide full cooperation to the police in the case of a male student who died after allegedly being beaten by dorm mates at a vocational college in Lahad Datu, Sabah.
In a statement yesterday, the ministry said it had provided assistance to the victim’s family.
The ministry said it had also offered psychosocial support to students, their parents and teachers at the college.
“The Education Ministry expresses its condolences and sympathy to the family of Muhd Nazmie Aizat Muhd Narul Azman, a vocational college student in Sabah who died on Friday.
“At the same time, the ministry calls on all parties to respect the privacy of the victim’s family.
“The ministry does not tolerate bullying in any educational institution under its jurisdiction,” it said.
Nazmie, 17, was found unconscious in the college hostel by the warden at 6.50am on Friday.
Lahad Datu police chief Assistant Commissioner Dr Rohan Shah Ahmad said they had received a report from the college director on the incident.
He said checks revealed signs of injuries and bruising on the victim’s body.
Police then detained 13 male students aged between 16 and 19, and seized a smartphone charging device believed to be related to the case.
The police were also looking for seven witnesses to assist in investigations.
Nazmie’s family refused to comment on the incident.
When approached at the Forensics Department of Lahad Datu Hospital yesterday, one of the victim’s family members requested privacy and said they did not want to be disturbed.
“For now, we do not wish to make any statements. Please understand,” the family member briefly told reporters.
The family members were still in shock and found it difficult to cope with the sadness, he added.
On Friday, Nazmie, a student majoring in biotechnology, was found unconscious and confirmed dead by Lahad Datu Hospital personnel, who were called to the scene.
Rohan Shah said the incident was believed to have been caused by a misunderstanding between the victim and his dorm mates.
He said, all 13 students who were detained would be investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder.