By Dorcas Ting
KUCHING, Jan 9: In a bid to curb escalating school intimidation, the Magistrates Court on Thursday (Jan 8) imposed a stringent oversight order on a 13-year-old student for threatening a female classmate with grotesque violence.
Magistrate Mason Jaro Lenya Berayan mandated a two-year good behaviour bond, requiring the boy to report bi-monthly to the social welfare department (JKM).
The court’s order also bound his parents. They must accompany him to all JKM or local police station check-ins and attend mandatory interactive counselling programmes for the duration of the bond, citing powers under child protection statutes.
The judgment followed a social evaluation report on the defendant’s character. He had previously admitted guilt last October to charges of criminal intimidation under Section 506 of the Penal Code.
The courtroom heard that the threats were issued in a Padawan secondary school classroom in October of last year.
The victim, also 13 years old, was studying when the accused and another student began harassing her. The confrontation escalated when the boy threatened to stab her 300 times, a threat investigators said mimicked a notorious school attack in Petaling Jaya. He further threatened to have her raped by others.
A separate assault occurred during the incident when the accused’s friend threw a hard object, identified as a correction tape dispenser, at the girl, causing a visible bruise.
The psychological impact on the victim was severe. The prosecution noted she developed significant trauma, including a fear of returning to school.
A specialised police unit investigated the case after the victim filed a report, leading to the boy’s arrest. Witnesses present in the classroom corroborated the events.
The case was prosecuted by Deputy Public Prosecutor Muhammad Aidil Akmal Sharidan. The juvenile defendant appeared in court with his parents and was not represented by private legal counsel. — DayakDaily
