A 15-year-old student in Damansara says he now lives in fear of going to school after being bullied, punched and repeatedly forced to hand over pocket money by a group of senior students.
The boy, whose identity is being withheld for safety reasons, said that the same group of students had been targeting him since his first day in February.
According to him and his friends, the group is notorious for extorting juniors and is widely known in school as “gangsters”.
Bruises on his arms exposed months of bullying
As reported by FMT, the victim said the bullying would usually happen during recess and along the school stairways.
One of the incidents he recalled took place when a Form 5 student grabbed his shirt and blocked him on the staircase.
The senior demanded money and threatened to punch him if he refused. Despite giving RM5, the boy said he was still assaulted.
He punched my right arm. Two other boys were waiting upstairs and three more were downstairs to make sure I did not run.”
The next day, the same student confronted him again. This time, he accused the victim of ratting him out, punched his left arm and took another RM8.
The boy said the bully also warned him, saying, “If you tell your father, I will smash your face.”
He also claimed that the group would often smoke in the toilet and target other students as well.
Father lodges police report
The boy’s father, a 43-year-old clerk from Selayang, said he became suspicious after noticing marks and bruises on both his son’s arms. The teenager finally broke down and explained what had been happening.
The father then lodged a police report at the Mutiara Damansara police station on Feb 22 and later brought his son to a hospital for a check up.
Four days later, police began investigations, where the case will be referred to the Selangor deputy public prosecutor next week.
Parents begged for report to be withdrawn
The school later called the parents of the five alleged bullies for a meeting on Feb 26, where the victim’s father said the students admitted to beating his son. The parents of the bullies also reportedly pleaded with him to withdraw the police report.
Though he initially considered doing so, the victim’s father backtracked when one of the bullies suddenly attempted to lunge at his son again right in front of police officers.
That was when I decided I would not withdraw the report,” he said.
The father claimed the students were only suspended for two weeks and have since returned to school.
Victim traumatised and afraid to be alone in school
The victim said he remains traumatised and avoids going anywhere alone in school, especially the toilet where the seniors often loiter.
I am scared to go to school. I just hope nothing else will happen.
“I also hope to be transferred to a vocational or technical school next year for a fresh start.”
READ ALSO:
