THE investigation into the death of 11-year-old Mohamad Thaqif Amin Mohd Gadaffi today has been reclassified as murder, says Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar.

Khalid announced this on Twitter this evening following the death of the schoolboy about 2pm today. 

Khalid, using his Twitter handle @KBAB51, said police would obtain the medical report of the boy and commence investigations immediately. He also conveyed his condolences to the family of Thaqif and assured them that the case had been reclassified as murder.

“Thaqif Amin case – PDRMasia offers condolence to his family. The case has been reclassified under Section 302 for murder,” he tweeted.

Police had initially opened the case under Section 31(1) of the Child Act 2010 which deals with child abuse.

Meanwhile, Kota Tinggi district deputy police chief Deputy Superintendant Mohamed Sazif Mohamed Subri said police had recorded the statements of nine pupils of the religious school that Thaqif had attended and several others to facilitate investigation.

He said investigation was ongoing and appealed to the public and the media to stop speculating about the case. 

“We hope that all parties, including the media, stop speculating because it can add pressure to the case and others especially if it’s not true,” he said in a press conference at police headquarters in Kota Tinggi this evening.

The 29-year-old assistant warden of Thaqif’s school was arrested on Saturday for allegedly beating the boy after the boy was admitted to hospital, where his legs were amputated due to infection. He was due to undergo another amputation, this time of his arm, but the operation was delayed because of his weak heart.

It has been reported that the assistant school warden is a former convict who has served time for burglary. – April 26, 2017.