Soldier assaults student, parents engage lawyer

KOTA KINABALU: The parents of a boy has lodged a police report that a soldier had allegedly assaulted their nine-year-old son in a school in Papar.They have also engaged a lawyer to initiate legal action, seeking damages over the injuries sustained by their son.

The soldier had allegedly barged into SK Pengalat primary school about 11.30am on February 22, and assaulted the boy.

Lawyer Ansari Abdullah told reporters yesterday that he had been engaged by the boy’s parents to initiate legal action.

He said according to the police report lodged by the boy’s father, Yusri Yunos, the soldier went into the school compound and after locating the primary three pupil, began hitting him on the head as other students and teachers watched in horror.

When the boy fell down, the soldier kicked him. The soldier then took the boy to Papar hospital for treatment.

Ansari said the boy sustained bruises on the chest and swelling in the head.

He said Papar police had informed the parents that since an army personnel was involved in the incident, they would be forwarding a report on the matter to the military.

Fifth Brigade commanding officer Brigadier General Datuk Masrani Paiman said the army would conduct its own investigation following the police report by the boy’s parents.

“If the incident did take place, we will take stern action,” he said when contacted yesterday.

He added the military would also try to contact the boy’s parents to get their version of the incident.