Tahfiz school arson suspect taken to site

KUALA LUMPUR: Police yesterday took one of the seven suspects in the tahfiz school arson case to the scene of the crime in Datuk Keramat.

The 16-year-old arrived in a van with police officers at about 11.50am and was seen handcuffed and wearing a mask to conceal his identity.

The teenager was taken into the school compound before being led into the back of the building, which had been cordoned off. A police Forensics Unit was also present.

He is believed to have been taken to the site to re-enact the events that took place just before the fire, that claimed 23 lives.

They spent about an hour in the school before leaving at about 1pm.

Meanwhile, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman said while the suspects in the case will not be sentenced to capital punishment due to their age, they can be incarcerated for as long as the state ruler deems fit.

She said no individual would be spared from the law and the seven suspects, aged between 11 and 18, would be tried fairly.

“Even if they are convicted for murder under Section 302 of the Penal Code, Section 97 (1) of the Child Act 2001 states the death penalty cannot be applied on those aged below 18.

“However, the court may sentence them to imprisonment for as long as the Yang diPertuan Agong or Yang di-Pertua Negri give their consent,” she said in a statement yesterday.

Azalina added that the perpetrators may also be sentenced to penalties as prescribed under Section 91 (1) of the Child Act that include imprisonment, light caning or detention at an approved school.

The seven suspects were remanded to facilitate investigations under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder and Section 435 of the same code for mischief by fire.

Azalina said Section 94 of the Child Act also allows the court to order the parents of the suspects to pay a fine or compensation.

“This incident should be made a lesson to all quarters, especially parents, in combating crimes involving children,” she said.