TAWAU: Police are tracking down individuals believed to be involved in the assault of a secondary school student in Merotai Besar, Tawau, following an incident reported on Friday.
The case gained attention after a video, believed to have been recorded by one of the alleged assailants and shared on
Facebook by a person claiming to be the victim's brother, circulated on social media.
Acting Tawau police chief Supt Wilynton Enchana Watt said police received a report from the 14-year-old victim at 8.09pm on Friday, prompting the District Criminal Investigation Division to begin investigations into the incident, which allegedly occurred at about noon along Jalan Sri Delima while the victim and three friends were walking to Masjid Hidayatul Iman Merotai Besar for Friday prayers.
Initial investigations found that another group of students approached the victim and his friends to ask about the whereabouts of two individuals before one of them allegedly assaulted the victim, after which several others allegedly joined in and attacked the victim and his three companions, leaving them injured.
The victim sustained injuries to his face, chest and ribs and was referred to Hospital Tawau for treatment, while police have classified the case as rioting under Section 147 of the Penal Code and are seeking information from the public, including through investigating officer Sgt Chong Fung Mee at 013-8840113, as investigations continue.
