KUANTAN: A religious school student here has endured a nightmare after being allegedly assaulted by his religious teacher since he joined the school at Jaya Gading here early this year.
The 9-year-old victim claimed that he was caned, slapped, forced to perform squats, reprimanded openly and was also kissed on the lips by the man known as "Ustaz" among the students.
The victim revealed this to his mother when she visited him at the religious school in Taman Seri Damai Aman near here about 11am on March 16.
The victim informed his mother that he was tortured by the teacher from the first day he joined school on Jan 1 and the latest incident was on March 15, where he was caned on his back, legs, hands and was also pinched.
The furious mother upon hearing what her son had to endure, immediately lodged a police report.
State Criminal Investigation Department chief Datuk Othman Nanyan said two students aged nine and 11-years-old had also informed police that all the 19 students at the religious school would be punished by the teacher whenever they made mistakes.
He said checks revealed there were severe rotan and pinch marks on both the boys.
He added that the Surau Al Barakah in Taman Seri Damai Aman where the alleged incidents took place was modified to cater as a religious school and a students hostel.
“A total of 19 students aged between eight and 15-years-old currently studied at the premises.
"Investigations revealed the school only has one teacher who is identified as 'Ustaz Zainal Abidin'.
"We believe the teacher has since gone into hiding after the victim's family lodged a police report," he said in a statement today.
Othman said the 46-year-old suspect has two previous records under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001 in Gedek, Melaka, in 2013 and Bachok, Kelantan, in 2016.