A 16-year-old Form Four student was found dead inside the hall of a secondary school in Yong Peng, Johor, on Saturday (3 Oct), with police now investigating the case.
The victim has been identified as Irene Sofiya Mohd Khairool Faisal.
According to some latest reports, three male students, all aged 16 and from the same school, were later arrested on suspicion of being linked to the case.
One of them is expected to be brought to the Batu Pahat Magistrate’s Court to obtain a remand order as police continue their investigation.
Went to school for extra classes
Irene was believed to have gone to school that afternoon to attend extra classes.
Her family became concerned after two of her friends went to her home at around 5.30pm and asked about her whereabouts.
The friends reportedly found it strange that Irene’s motorcycle was still at the school, although she could not be seen anywhere.
Her grandmother, Jameyah Rabani, 66, then went to the school with her eldest daughter, Siti Nur Faeza, 45, to look for her.
The school is located about three kilometres from their home.
They searched around the school grounds together with Irene’s friends before one of them eventually found her inside the school hall.
Jameyah told Sinar Harian that she heard one of Irene’s friends screaming and calling for her to come quickly after seeing blood.
According to the family, Irene was found lying weak, with dried blood stains and bruises that appeared to have been caused by physical assault.
Jameyah said Irene was still conscious when she was found.
I held her, called out Fiya’s name and guided her to recite the declaration of faith. She managed to look at her grandmother’s face before going limp and no longer moving,” she said.
‘I can’t imagine the pain she went through’
Irene’s aunt, Siti Nur Faeza, said she could not imagine the fear and pain her niece had experienced before she was found, particularly as she had been inside a dark school hall.
I cannot imagine the pain and suffering she endured before we found her. Imagine her being in pain and covered in blood, while no one knew what condition she was in at the time,” she said.
She described what had happened as extremely cruel and expressed hope that police would conduct a thorough investigation and ensure those responsible are dealt with according to the law.
Wanted to become a doctor like her late mother
Family members described Irene as a quiet and hardworking student who often performed well academically.
Her mother, who was a public health specialist doctor, died of liver cancer when Irene was nine years old.
Her father currently works as an engineer in Bangi, Selangor, while Irene has been living with her grandmother in Yong Peng.
According to Siti Nur Faeza, Irene had hoped to follow in her late mother’s footsteps and become a specialist doctor.
Fiya once asked me what type of doctor would suit her. I told her it might be better to become an obstetrician and gynaecologist.
“She said she wanted to become a doctor like her late mother,” she recalled.
Siti Nur Faeza, who is also a teacher, said Irene was diligent in her studies and had never caused problems for the family.
She added that Irene would often rank first or second in her form during examinations and was believed to have the potential to score 9As in next year’s Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination.
Fiya was one of the students the family and school had high hopes for. She really loved studying and was very focused on her education,” she said.
PM Anwar calls for immediate, transparent investigation
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim also expressed his condolences to Irene’s family in a social media post.
A post shared by Anwar Ibrahim (@anwaribrahim_my)
He said he was deeply saddened by the death of the 16-year-old and had instructed the authorities to carry out an immediate, thorough and transparent investigation to determine what had happened.
If criminal elements are found, firm action must be taken in accordance with the law,” he said.
Anwar added that the safety of children is a shared responsibility and said the government would not compromise when it comes to protecting their safety and well-being.
Meanwhile, Batu Pahat District Police Chief Assistant Commissioner Shahrulanuar Mushaddat Abdullah Sani said the case remains under investigation.
The Criminal Investigation Department is also conducting further investigations, while forensic personnel from the Johor Police Contingent Headquarters were seen at the school.
Members of the public were also seen gathering outside the school gates as investigations continued.
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