THE public must be brave enough to approach the authorities, especially the police, to help combat crime, abuse of power and degradation of morality in society, works minister Baru Bian has said, following the recent arrest of a teacher over alleged sexual assault and sodomy of five boys at a primary school in Lawas, Sabah.

Baru said the police needed to carry out a thorough investigation, so that justice could be served.

“It is extremely disappointing when a teacher, who is expected to educate and nurture children, could commit such an immoral act,” he said.

“If there is enough evidence, then the suspect should be taken to court and punished accordingly.

“We cannot allow rampant criminal activity and the culprits to escape unpunished,” the Selangau MP and Ba’kelalan assemblyman said in a statement in Kuching today.

On May 19, it was reported that police had detained a teacher to assist with their enquiries into allegations of sexual assault and sodomy involving five boys at a primary school in Lawas in 2016.

Lawas district police chief Abang Zainal Abidin Abang Ahmad said the suspect, a 31-year-old man, had been detained at Karamunsing police station, Kota Kinabalu, at 7.30pm on May 18.

The suspect had been employed in Lawas since January 2012. – Bernama, May 21, 2019.