DUE to his interest in Islam, 7-year-old Mohammad Aimin Nurul Amin joined his stepbrother to study at a religious school in Kampung Kuala Kuang in Lanchang near here last month.
But after barely a month at the school, Aimin died on Thursday. He was believed to have been physically abused.
To make matters worse, his 13-year-old stepbrother was among three students from the school picked up by police for investigation.
Aimin’s stepmother, Asmaliza Ahmad, said her stepson returned to school on Nov 3 after spending a four-day break from Oct 31 to Nov 3 at their house in Kampung Charuk Puting here.
The 39-year-old said a teacher from the religious school informed her about Aimin’s condition at 1pm on Thursday and she rushed to the Lanchang health clinic, where Aimin was taken to.
“During his stay at the school, Aimin never complained, or showed any signs of pain.
“He also was not invoved in any fights.
“There were rashes on his body but that is quite normal because I suffer from rashes too. He was cheerful before returning to the school on Sunday.”
She said Aimin studied at SK Charuk Puting before enrolling in the religious school last month.
“He showed deep interest in Islamic studies.
“We decided that it was best that he join his stepbrother at the religious school in Lanchang last month,” she said at Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Hospital here yesterday.
Aimin’s grandfather, Abdul Rahman Yusuf, 76, hoped those responsible for his grandson’s death would be brought to justice.
He said Aimin was from his son Nurul Amin Abd Rahman’s previous marriage.
“I took care of him when he was a toddler.
“I was informed by a relative of his death at 3pm on Thursday. I am still coming to terms with his death,” he said, adding that he last met Aimin before Hari Raya Aidilfitri this year.
Rahman said Nurul Amin was married to a Sabahan before the couple divorced. Nurul Amin, 36, later remarried.
The religious school hostel warden Siti Nor Asilah Samsuri, 39, said Aimin never showed any signs of being abused or ill while at the school.
She said Aimin was asleep before zohor prayers on Thursday while three other boys, who studied at the same school, had gone to the mosque to perform prayers.
“My husband told me to wake Aimin up for prayers.
“When I went to check on him, I realised that he was lying motionless in bed and his legs were cold.
“We immediately took him to the Lanchang health clinic where the doctor informed us
that Aimin had bruises on his body. Several minutes later, he said that Aimin was dead,” she said.
State Criminal Investigations Department chief Datuk Othman Nanyan said police detained three students, including Aimin’s stepbrother, at the school to facilitate investigations.
He added that several bruises were found on the victim’s body.
Othman said the religious school, which began operations early this year, had only four students, including the victim, and was not registered with the Pahang Islamic Religious Department.
The case is being investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder.