Police Clears MRSM Tumpat Teacher Of Paedophilia Allegations
The teacher had earlier sued the former student for RM3 million for defamation.
By Sadho Ram — 30 Apr 2024, 10:49 AM — Updated 8 months ago
Kelantan police have now cleared a teacher at a Majlis Amanah Rakyat Junior Science College (MRSM) in Tumpat of paedophilia allegations after finding no evidence during their investigation
Kelantan police chief Datuk Muhamad Zaki Harun said statements from the teacher and a former student, who had accused the teacher of paedophilia, led them to believe that the claims were slanderous.
He added that the investigation into the case found that the accused teacher was actually a well-liked person at the school, leading the police to believe he had been slandered by the 24-year-old woman.
"We [recently] completed our investigations into the case after taking statements from 14 individuals, including the school's teachers and students. We did not find any signs of sexual harassment taking place at the school and no case of paedophilia occurred as claimed by certain quarters there.
"We have sent a medical report of a woman who spread the accusation on social media to examine whether she is suffering from mental illness," he was quoted as saying by the New Straits Times.
The teacher has been under suspension since 29 March.
Kelantan police chief Datuk Muhamad Zaki Harun (centre).
Image via Sharifah Mahsinah Abdullah/New Straits TimesThe case is now being probed under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act for improper use of network facilities
The reclassification of the case means that police will now investigate the former student for using social media to level allegations of paedophilia against the teacher on 28 March.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, the woman claimed that a teacher at the MRSM was "clearly a paedophile and had been proven to be a paedophile", but was still teaching freely at the school.
"When I was 13, I was warned by seniors that this particular teacher would send dirty texts to you if he found you pretty. And when I was a senior, we had to warn our juniors about him," she wrote, adding that despite being caught red-handed several times, the teacher was still allowed to teach minors.
The former student had also shared screenshots dating back to 2013, allegedly showing the teacher texting with minors in a sexually suggestive manner and taking pictures of underwear.
The teacher subsequently lodged a report at the Tumpat police station against the former female student, alleging that she defamed him
He also sued the former student for RM3 million for defamation.
If you or someone you know may be at risk or has experienced sexual abuse or assault, please reach out to these Malaysian organisations:
1. WOMEN'S AID ORGANISATION (WAO)
Operating hours: 24-hour
Contact: +603-30008858
SMS/WhatsApp: +6018-9888058
Website | Facebook | Twitter
2. ALL WOMEN'S ACTION SOCIETY (AWAM)
Operating hours: Monday to Friday (9.30am - 5.30pm)
Contact: +603-78770224
WhatsApp/Telegram: +6016-2284221 | +6016-2374221
Email: [email protected]
Website | Facebook | Twitter
3. WOMEN'S CENTRE FOR CHANGE PENANG (WCC PENANG)
Operating hours: Monday to Friday (9am - 5pm)
Contact: +604-2280342 | +604-3988340
WhatsApp: +6011-31084001 | +6016-4180342
Email: [email protected]
Website | Facebook | Twitter
4. SARAWAK WOMEN FOR WOMEN SOCIETY (SWWS)
Operating hours: Monday (7pm - 9pm),Tuesday to Thursday (9.30am - 11.30am), Saturday (2pm - 4pm)
Contact: +6082-368853
SMS/WhatsApp: +6016-5822660 | +6013-8044285
Email: [email protected]
Website | Facebook | Twitter
5. SABAH WOMEN'S ACTION-RESOURCE GROUP (SAWO)
Operating hours: Monday to Friday (9am - 5pm)
Contact: +6088-280200 | +6011-27908020
Email: [email protected]
Website | Facebook | Twitter
6. PROTECT AND SAVE THE CHILDREN (PS THE CHILDREN)
Operating hours: Monday to Friday (3pm - 12am)
WhatsApp: +6016-7213065
Email: [email protected]
Website | Facebook | Twitter
7. INTERNET WATCH FOUNDATION (IWF)
Anonymously and confidentially report child sexual abuse content and non-photographic child sexual abuse images with IWF's Reporting Portal.