The Malaysian Insight

SIX youths, aged between 12 and 18, suspected to be behind the tragic fire at a tahfiz school in Kuala Lumpur, have been charged with drug abuse and the murder of 23 people.

Seven suspects were initially detained on September 16, two days after the blaze at the Darul Quran Ittifaqiyah tahfiz school in Kg Datuk Keramat that destroyed the second floor of the building, killing 21 pupils and two wardens.

Six of them were charged today at the KL magistrates’ court, where scores of family members and the public gathered from 8am.

Shortly after noon, two suspects, aged 16, were charged with murder and self-administration of drugs.

Four others were charged with drug abuse under the Dangerous Drugs Act.

The seventh suspect, a 15-year-old boy, was not charged with any offence.

Lawyer Boestaman Ahmad, who has been holding a watching brief for the tahfiz school, said no plea was recorded and that mention of the case will be on November 28. 

Three out of five youths pleaded not guilty to self-administration of drugs, said lawyer Noor Svetlana Mohd Nordin.

Investigations revealed that the motive of the seven suspects in starting the fire was a teasing match between them and the tahfiz pupils.

Early investigations by the fire department showed that the hostel was set on fire using petrol.

Businessman Sharifuddin Musa, the father of one of the survivors, said he was at the courthouse to hear the charges.

“I can forgive, but (I’m) also sad about what had happened. The other family members and I can only hope for fair sentences for the suspects,” he told reporters.

The mother of one of the deceased, who only gave her first name as Hartini, told  The Malaysian Insight earlier that she came to the courthouse because she needed to see for herself those who caused the death of her son, Nik Muhammad Ridzuan Nik Azlan, 12.

“I want to see the faces of the people who are responsible.”

Principal Mohamad Zahid Mahmood told Harian Metro Online earlier that charging the youths would bring an end to the painful episode and bring closure to families of the victims as well the school.

“Whatever happens to them (the suspects) is determined by Allah, they need to face punishment for what they did,” Zahid was quoted as saying.

He said he would not be present at the courthouse today as his focus was to “rebuild the tahfiz school and the morale of the pupils and teachers after this tragedy”. – September 28, 2017.