Schoolboy’s arm not responding to treatment

Bacterial infection has destroyed blood cells and tissue, says aunt

JOHOR BARU: Five days after both his legs were amputated due to alleged physical abuse at a religious school, Mohamad Thaqif Amin Mohd Gaddafi’s condition has worsened.

His right arm and fingers were turning black again yesterday after showing signs of recovery on Sunday.

The 11-year-old boy’s family is gripped with fear that he may lose another limb.

His aunt Dzuraidah Ahmad, 38, said he could lose the arm to bacterial infection which had led to his legs being amputated.

The infection had destroyed blood cells and tissue in the limbs.

She said he was not responding well to treatment on his right arm although his left shoulder, where doctors had found blood clots, was improving after giving him blood-thinning medication.

“The doctors told us that Thaqif ’s right forearm, below the elbow, could be amputated.

“He is still in critical condition, it goes up and down. We can only keep praying for him and hope for the best,” she said at Hospital Sultan Ismail yesterday.

Dzuraidah said Mohamad Thaqif regained consciousness on Monday night but had to be sedated because he kept trying to remove the medical tubes from his body.

His failing kidney was responding well after dialysis, she said.

A group of students from the private religious school in Kota Tinggi visited the boy to recite prayers and pray for his recovery.

Mohamad Thaqif was allegedly abused by the school’s assistant warden last month.

The suspect, 29, an ex-convict, reportedly whipped the boy and several other students with a water hose to punish them.

He is under police remand, which ends today.

Hired by the school last year, the man has a criminal record for theft and has served a 30-month jail sentence.

He is still in critical condition, it goes up and down. We can only keep praying for him and hope for the best.

Dzuraidah Ahmad