Cops seek ustaz over torture of students
KUANTAN: A religious school student has endured a nightmare after being allegedly assaulted by his teacher since he joined the tahfiz in Jaya Gading here early this year.
The 9-year-old victim claimed that he was caned, slapped, forced to perform squats, reprimanded openly and was kissed on the lips by the man known as “Ustaz” among the students.
The victim revealed this to his mother when she visited him at the school in
Taman Seri
Damai Aman, near here, at
11am on March
16.
The victim informed his mother that he was tortured by the teacher from the first day he joined the tahfiz on Jan 1 and the latest incident was on March 15, where he was caned on his back, legs, hands and was also pinched.
The mother upon hearing what her son had to endure, lodged a report.
State Criminal Investigation Department chief Datuk Othman Nanyan said two students, aged 9 and 11, had also informed the police that all 19 students at the school would be punished by the teacher whenever they made mistakes.
He said checks revealed that there were severe rotan and pinch marks on both boys.
He said Surau Al Barakah in Taman Seri Damai Aman where the alleged incident took place was modified to operate as a religious school and a students’ hostel.
“Nineteen students, aged between 8 and 15, study on the premises. Investigations revealed that the school only has one teacher, identified as ‘Ustaz Zainal Abidin’.
“We believe that the teacher has gone into hiding after the victim’s family lodged a police report,” he said yesterday.