‘Tahfiz boys fought with teens over football field’

KUALA LUMPUR: The Darul Quran Ittifaqiyah tahfiz school principal told the High Court yesterday that there was a report of a small scuffle between some students and other teenagers from the village.

Mohd Zahid Mahmood, 48, said one of his teachers reported the incident that occurred when a group of students went to play at a nearby football field.

“One of my ustaz (teacher) reported to me about a small scuffle between students and local kids as they were about to play football at the field.

“The local kids had said they had ‘conquered’ the field, but my students argued that they had arrived earlier.

“To avoid further arguments, the teacher told my students to play at a different field.”

Zahid said the students were allowed to go out for weekly sports activities on Sunday and Wednesday, supervised by three teachers.

“However, there are special circumstances when students are allowed to play outside either on Monday or Tuesday.

“They only play in their group and do not mingle with local kids,” he said.

Zahid, who was testifying as the 17th witness at the trial of two juveniles charged with murdering 21 students and two wardens of the tahfiz school, said this during examination-in-chief by deputy public prosecutor Othman Abdullah.

The juveniles are alleged to have committed the offence in Jalan Keramat Hujung, Kampung Datuk Keramat, Wangsa Maju between 4.15am and 6.45am on Sept 14 last year.

The duo, who are 17 now, were represented by counsel Haijan Omar.

They face 23 counts under Section 302 of the Penal Code and face a mandatory death sentence upon conviction.

However, since they are under 18, under Section 97(1) of the Child Act 2001, they cannot be sentenced to death.

They will be held at the pleasure of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong if found guilty.

In the fire at 5.15am on Sept 14 , 21 students and two teachers died, after being trapped on the third floor of the religious residential school hostel.

Proceedings before judge Datuk Azman Abdullah continue today.

The local kids had said they had ‘conquered’ the field, but my students argued that they had arrived earlier. MOHD ZAHID MAHMOOD Tahfiz school principal