SEREMBAN, Sept 29 (Bernama) -- Police have arrested another 16-year-old male student, bringing the total number of suspects detained to two to assist in the investigation into the death of a Form Two student in Kuala Pilah last Friday.
Negeri Sembilan Police Chief Datuk Alzafny Ahmad said the suspect is a student at the same school and was brought to the Kuala Pilah Magistrate's Court yesterday for a six-day remand application until October 3 to aid the investigation.
He said that police are conducting a thorough investigation and a special task force has been set up to help resolve this case, which includes determining the actual cause of death by examining the possibility of a bullying incident or otherwise.
"The post-mortem results are still inconclusive regarding the cause of the victim's death, and police are awaiting the results of samples sent to the Chemistry Department. A total of 68 witness statements have been recorded, though several more witnesses will be called to assist investigations," he said at a press conference here today.
He said the case was still being investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code and comprehensive investigations are ongoing.
Meanwhile, Alzafny said further investigations revealed that the incident occurred after the Maghrib prayers last Friday, when all students were supposed to be attending a study or "prep" session in their respective dormitories.
He said the suspect then called the victim to his room on the second floor of Block A before beating the victim on the soles of his feet several times using a rubber hose.
"The victim was also struck on several parts of his body. When the victim's condition became critical, the dormitory warden was contacted, and the victim was taken to the hospital. Doctors subsequently confirmed that the victim had passed away.
"We cannot confirm whether the victim passed away at the dormitory or while on the way to the hospital," he said adding that several students from the school had also come forward to the police, claiming they had previously been bullied by the first suspect who was detained.
Media had earlier reported Alzafny as saying that a Form Four student was remanded for six days to assist in the investigation regarding the death of a 14-year-old male student in Kuala Pilah, and the case is being investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code.
He said police had been notified of an incident involving injuries inflicted upon a Form Two student at a school in Kuala Pilah and that the victim was rushed to Tuanku Ampuan Najihah Hospital (HTAN) in Kuala Pilah and was confirmed dead.
-- BERNAMA