Axe bought online, 38 witnesses questioned: Police await psychiatric report in Kuching school attack

KUCHING, Oct 28 — Police are awaiting a forensic psychiatric report on the 16-year-old student involved in an axe attack on a teacher at a private school here before drawing any conclusions about his mental state during the October 21 incident.

Acting Sarawak police commissioner DCP Shaifullizan Ishak said the assessment is necessary to establish whether the student was aware of his actions or was acting in a state beyond his control at the time.

“We are still waiting for the forensic psychiatric report. I cannot draw any conclusions until we receive the report,” he told a press conference here.

He said the student remained hospitalised and was receiving treatment, while the forensic psychiatric assessment is still in progress.

Saifullizan said police had completed their investigations and submitted the investigation papers to the deputy public prosecutor on October 26 for further consideration.

He stressed that the decision on whether to charge the student rested with the prosecution, which would take the forensic psychiatric findings into account.

“The psychiatric specialists will prepare a report on whether the act was committed while he was conscious of his actions or in a state beyond his control.

“The prosecution will determine whether charges should be brought. Our responsibility as the police is to investigate,” he said.

On when the forensic psychiatric report would be ready, Saifullizan said no definite timeframe could be given, as the assessment was still in progress.

“We can only wait. It may take a month, or it may depend on the circumstances.

“But I hope the relevant parties will give this case their attention because it has attracted considerable public interest,” he said.

On whether bullying could have been a factor in the incident, he said police had so far found no evidence linking the attack to bullying.

He also declined to speculate on claims that the student had been influenced by online games, stressing that police could only comment on findings supported by evidence.

He revealed that the police had recorded statements from 38 witnesses, including students, teachers, security guards, medical specialists, and the student’s parents.

Among the items seized were an axe, a knife, firecrackers, a computer, and other electronic devices, which had been sent for forensic examination.

Police are still awaiting the forensic analysis of the electronic devices, while investigations had established that the student purchased the axe online.

Regarding the firecrackers seized, Saifullizan said examinations indicated that they remained classified as firecrackers rather than more powerful explosives.

He also said that the 42-year-old victim of the attack suffered a minor wound on her left hand, which did not involve muscle or bone, and has since been discharged from hospital.

The case is being investigated under Section 324 of the Penal Code and Section 6(1) of the Corrosive and Explosive Substances and Offensive Weapons Act 1958.

Saifullizan also urged the public against speculating on the case or sharing unverified information, particularly as it involved a minor whose rights must be protected under the law. — The Borneo Post

Ministry: No complaint filed over activist Tamim Dahri’s alleged abuse in police custody

RM22m Sungai Golok dredging completed to ease Kelantan flood risks ahead of monsoon

Tawau water plant resumes operations after two-week disruption, but residents face longer wait for stable supply

古晋，10月28日讯——警方正在等待一名16岁学生的法医精神病学报告，该学生涉嫌在10月21日私立学校用斧头袭击一名教师，之后才能就其在事件发生时的精神状态得出任何结论。

砂拉越代理警察总监沙伊夫利赞·伊沙克表示，有必要进行评估，以确定该学生当时是否意识到自己的行为，或者是否处于无法控制的状态。

“我们仍在等待法医精神病学报告。在收到报告之前，我无法得出任何结论。”他在新闻发布会上说。

他说，这名学生仍在住院接受治疗，法医精神病学评估仍在进行中。

赛福里赞表示，警方已完成调查，并于10月26日将调查文件提交给副检察官，以供进一步审议。

他强调，是否对该学生提出指控的决定权在于检方，检方会考虑法医精神病学的调查结果。

“精神病专家将出具一份报告，说明该行为是在他意识清醒的情况下实施的，还是在他失去控制的状态下实施的。

“检方将决定是否提起诉讼。我们警方的职责是进行调查，”他说。

关于法医精神病学报告何时能够完成，赛福里赞表示，由于评估仍在进行中，因此无法给出确切的时间表。

“我们只能等待。可能需要一个月，也可能要视情况而定。”

“但我希望有关各方能够重视此案，因为它已经引起了公众的广泛关注，”他说。

关于欺凌是否可能是导致这起事件的因素，他表示，警方目前尚未发现任何证据表明此次袭击与欺凌有关。

他还拒绝就该学生是否受到网络游戏影响的说法进行猜测，并强调警方只能对有证据支持的调查结果发表评论。

他透露，警方已记录了 38 名证人的证词，其中包括学生、教师、保安人员、医疗专家和学生的家长。

查获的物品包括斧头、刀、鞭炮、电脑和其他电子设备，这些物品已被送去进行法医检验。

警方仍在等待对电子设备的法医分析结果，而调查已证实该学生是从网上购买的斧头。

关于查获的鞭炮，赛福里赞表示，检验结果表明它们仍属于鞭炮，而不是威力更大的爆炸物。

他还表示，这名42岁的袭击受害者左手受了轻伤，没有伤及肌肉或骨头，目前已经出院。

案件正在根据《刑法》第 324 条和 1958 年《腐蚀性和爆炸性物质及攻击性武器法》第 6(1) 条进行调查。

赛福里赞还呼吁公众不要对此案进行猜测或传播未经证实的信息，尤其因为此案涉及未成年人，其权利必须受到法律保护。——《婆罗洲邮报》

内政部：未就活动人士塔米姆·达赫里在警方拘留期间遭受虐待一事提出投诉

耗资2200万令吉的哥乐河疏浚工程已完成，旨在缓解吉兰丹州季风来临前的洪水风险。

斗湖水厂在中断两周后恢复运行，但居民仍需等待更长时间才能获得稳定的供水。