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Schools will seek to ensure well-being of students assisting with investigations: MOE

SINGAPORE – Schools have the obligation to cooperate with the Police and “not stand in the way of law” when students are assisting with investigations, but they will also seek to “ensure the well-being of our students”, said the Ministry of Education (MOE) today (Feb 2), in response to queries on the case of the death of a 14-year-old boy who was under investigation for outrage of modesty.

SINGAPORE – Schools have the obligation to cooperate with the Police and “not stand in the way of law” when students are assisting with investigations, but they will also seek to “ensure the well-being of our students”, said the Ministry of Education (MOE) today (Feb 2), in response to queries on the case of the death of a 14-year-old boy who was under investigation for outrage of modesty.

Under existing guidelines, schools will speak to the student first before the police speaks with the student, and a parent or guardians are contacted before the student leaves the school with the police to assist in an investigation. The school will also ensure the student is not hungry and has something to eat before leaving with the police.

“Our schools maintain the strictest confidentiality of the student’s identity and the case, so as to protect our student’s privacy and dignity,” said the MOE.

While the student is assisting in police investigations, the school will continue to keep in contact with the student and the parent/guardian to render the necessary support, the MOE added.

The ministry also said that they have a “firm belief that our schools have a duty of care to our students, regardless of the circumstances they are in”.

The case in question happened on Jan 26, where a 14-year-old boy was found dead at the foot of his Yishun Avenue 9 block hours after he was brought in to assist with police investigations into an alleged offence.

He had been taken to Ang Mo Kio Police Division from his school at about 11.30am that day for questioning over a report that was filed on Monday. TODAY understands it was a case of alleged outrage of modesty.

In statements after the incident, the police said plainclothes officers had gone to the boy’s school in unmarked vehicles. The interview was also conducted in an open work area, and the boy did not appear unduly distressed during his engagement with the officers.

Yesterday, the Police said they will review the procedure to allow an appropriate adult to be present when a young person is interviewed.

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