AYER KEROH (Melaka) — Seven male students between the ages of 13 and 16 have been remanded for seven days beginning Tuesday (July 23) on suspicion of having raped a female friend between October 2018 and March this year.

The remand order was issued by Ayer Keroh Magistrate's Court deputy registrar Mohd Anuar Ostadi at the Melaka Court Complex.

An investigation is being carried out under Section 376 of the Penal Code and Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017.

State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) chief Assistant Commissioner Mohd Nor Yhazid Idris confirmed the matter when contacted.

"The case came to light on July 15 when the female student's religious teacher contacted her mother asking her to come to the school. She then told the mother that her daughter had been engaging in sexual acts with several male students in the school.

"The mother said her daughter had never spoken about it and subsequently took her daughter to the police station to lodge a report," he said when contacted.

Mr Yhazid added that the complainant was then taken to the Melaka General Hospital for a checkup and it was later confirmed that she had old tears on her private parts.

He explained that further investigation found that 15 individuals were suspected of being involved in the case.

14 had been identified while another suspect's identity could not be ascertained as the complainant did not know his name, but she could identify him.

"Seven suspects remanded are between 13 and 16 years old from several schools in the state. The victim also admitted she had engaged in sexual acts several times with people she knew as well as strangers.

"The victim was said to have done this with several male friends after she was threatened with the spread of a sexual video recorded by an unknown individual," he said.

He added that police were still working to trace and obtain information on the other suspect.

"If convicted, they can be jailed not more than 20 years and caned," he said. NEW STRAITS TIMES