PETALING JAYA: Police in Pekan, Pahang have arrested a former religious teacher from Kemaman Tuesday (Feb 7) for allegedly sodomising a 14-year-old male student earlier this month.

       Sinar Harian reported Kemaman police chief Superintendent Hanyan Ramlan as saying that the victim lodged a report at the Chukai police station.

       “Apart from the victim, a 23-year-old suspect is also believed to have sexually violated several other students at the dormitory of the same tahfiz,” he said, adding that the victims had also lodged police reports.

       Supt Hanyan added that the management of the tahfiz terminated his services after learning of the allegations and the suspect then fled to Pekan, Pahang.

       However, he said that the suspect was successfully tacked down and detained in Pekan at 11pm on Monday (Feb 7).

       “The suspect will be remanded from Tuesday (Feb 7) till Feb 15 to complete investigations.

       “We also appeal to parents to come forward and lodge reports if they have any information on this case,” he said.

       He said that the case was being investigated under Section 377C of the Penal Code and Section 14(A) of Sexual Offence Against Children Act 2017.

       Supt Hanyan also reminded tahfiz operators not to hide any form of criminal activity at their premises.