Tahfiz school head held over sodomy

> 30-year-old suspect detained after 9 pupils allege sex assault

KUALA LUMPUR: The principal of a tahfiz centre in Kepong was detained by police for allegedly sodomising nine pupils from the school.

Kuala Lumpur deputy police chief Datuk Zainuddin Yaacop said the 30-year-old suspect was nabbed a day after the police received a report from a teacher at the centre on Sept 13.

The tahfiz students, aged between 11 and 16, had informed the teacher about the abuse by the suspect, Bernama reported.

“The principal is believed to have molested and sodomised all the victims and the case is being investigated under Section 14 of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017,” he said in a statement.

Zainuddin urged members of the public with any information on the case to contact the police.

According to police sources, all nine students were taken to the Kuala Lumpur contingent police headquarters to have their statements recorded before being sent to the Kuala Lumpur Hospital for examination.

All the pupils were later taken home by their families.

In SEREMBAN, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa said the government will close down the tahfiz centre if the suspect is found guilty.

He said stern action should be taken because such heinous acts would not only tarnish the reputation of the tahfiz institution but would also give Islam a bad image, Bernama reported.

“People will lose faith in the institution. Action should be taken against the individual involved and the school should be given a warning.”