“I hope the public will not make any speculation on the case,” Kelantan police chief Datuk Muhamad Zaki Harun told reporters after attending a breaking of fast ceremony at the state police headquarters here today. - NSTP/ SHARIFAH MAHSINAH ABDULLAH
“I hope the public will not make any speculation on the case,” Kelantan police chief Datuk Muhamad Zaki Harun told reporters after attending a breaking of fast ceremony at the state police headquarters here today. - NSTP/ SHARIFAH MAHSINAH ABDULLAH

KOTA BARU: Police have recorded statements from several people, including a student and a teacher, to facilitate its investigation into the case of Maktab Rendah Sains Mara (MRSM) Tumpat teacher accused of paedophilia.

Kelantan police chief Datuk Muhamad Zaki Harun said the individuals were called after police received a report from the MRSM teacher, who claimed he was defamed in the case.

"Police will conduct a thorough investigation into the case and believe it will be solved soon.

"I hope the public will not make any speculation on the case," he told reporters after attending a breaking of fast ceremony at the state police headquarters here today.

Yesterday, Zaki confirmed that police have received a report lodged by the teacher accused of paedophilia at MRSM Tumpat for being defamed.

The report, he said, was lodged on Friday at Tumpat police station by the teacher against a female student who had made a social media posting accusing him of the act.

Following the report, police have opened an investigation paper for the case under Section 500 of Penal Code for defamation and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 for improper use of network facilities or services to make or spread comments online.

It was reported that Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) has directed an immediate and thorough investigation into the allegations.

Its chairman Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said a team from Mara headquarters has been set up to conduct the investigation and will soon proceed to MRSM Tumpat.

Asyraf said he already instructed a thorough investigation into the matter to be conducted immediately.In the meantime, he said the teacher has been suspended until the investigation is complete.

On March 28, an individual took to social media and alleged that a teacher at MRSM Tumpat, known to be a paedophile, was still permitted to teach at the boarding school.

She claimed that she was informed by a junior that the teacher was still actively teaching, despite numerous allegations against him.