16-year-old student found murdered at Yong Peng school, teenage suspect arrested

BATU PAHAT - A 16-year-old female student died after she was found unconscious and covered in blood at a school in Yong Peng yesterday.

Police said a 16-year-old male teenager was arrested at about 7pm in the Yong Peng area, about an hour after police were alerted to the incident.

Johor police chief Datuk Ab Rahaman Arsad said the suspect has been remanded for six days to assist in investigations into the murder.

He said police received information from a member of the public at about 5.50 pm after the victim was found unconscious and injured in the school hall.

"The victim sustained several injuries to her head and body, and was pronounced dead at the scene.

"An autopsy was conducted today at Sultanah Nora Ismail Hospital in Batu Pahat,” he said in a statement today.

Ab Rahaman said the suspect was arrested by a team from the Criminal Investigation Department of the Johor Contingent Police Headquarters together with the Batu Pahat District Police Headquarters Criminal Investigation Division.

He said checks found that the teenager had no previous criminal record, while a mobile phone, a set of clothes and a pair of slippers were also seized.

Earlier, the suspect was taken to the Batu Pahat Magistrate’s Court for a remand application.

The case is being investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder, which carries the death penalty or imprisonment for between 30 and 40 years, as well as whipping of not fewer than 12 strokes if the death penalty is not imposed, upon conviction.

Ab Rahaman said the motive and cause of the incident were still under investigation, and urged the public not to speculate or make comments that could interfere with the investigation.

Those with information related to the incident can contact the Johor Police Hotline at 019-2792095 or the Johor Contingent Police Operations Room at 07-2212999. - BERNAMA