TAWAU: Police have detained 10 local teenage boys to assist investigations into the alleged assault of four students by a group of schoolmates in Merotai Besar on Friday.
Acting Tawau police chief Supt Wilynton Enchana Watt said the suspects, aged between 14 and 17, were arrested at about 2pm on Saturday in a joint operation by the District Criminal Investigation Division and Bombalai police station following information and investigations.
Initial investigations found that a group of students approached four teenage boys who were walking along a shortcut to Masjid Hidayatul Iman Merotai Besar to perform Friday prayers before allegedly assaulting one of them after he said he did not know the whereabouts of two individuals they were looking for.
The victim sustained injuries to the face, head, chest and ribs, lodged a police report and received follow-up treatment at Tawau Hospital, while the three other victims, who were also injured, have since lodged police reports.
Wilynton said the case has been classified as rioting and is being investigated under Section 147 of the Penal Code, adding that police viewed violence involving students seriously and urged parents, schools and the community to work together to curb such incidents.
