Schoolgirls linked to gang may be expelled

JOHOR BARU: Two female students of the Bandar Penawar Sports School who were arrested on suspicion of being involved with a rape and robbery gang may face expulsion.

Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong said the ministry’s investigations would be completed soon.

“However, the ministry’s action will depend on the outcome of the investigation,” he said, adding that the students, aged 15 and 16, had been released by police and were back in school.


He said the girls were undergoing athletics training in school.

Dr Wee said it was possible that the girls were not involved in the crime and were merely coaxed into joining the gang.

“However, the incident occurred during the school holidays so we will probe further on why the students did not go home but were found with the gang instead,” he told newsmen after launching the SMK IJ Convent’s excellent awards ceremony yesterday.

On March 23, seven suspects involved in multiple robberies and rapes in three states were caught after police searched 14 homes in Taman Muhibah, Kluang.

Police also detained three women, aged 18 to 20, who were married to three of the suspects, and the two students.

Meanwhile, Dr Wee urged all parties to stop blaming the teacher or the school for the death of Chan Qi Xian, a pupil of SJK (C) Kampung Baru Tiong near Gemas in Negri Sembilan.

He said the boy’s parents and the police had stated that it was not the fault of the teacher who had caned the boy.

“The boy died of a ruptured brain tumour. I urge all parents to inform the school of their children’s illnesses so that the school administrators will know,’’ he said.

On Tuesday, Qi Xian was brought to the Segamat Hospital after he complained of a severe headache following caning by his teacher. he was later referred to the Sultanah Aminah Hospital here.

On allegations that the second hospital had turned away the boy, Johor Health Department director Dr Mohd Khairi Yakub said doctors at the hospital had run several tests including a CT scan which showed that Qi Xian’s condition was critical.

“The parents agreed to take the boy home after extensive discussions with our hospital specialists, he said.