THE religious school where an 11-year-old boy was allegedly beaten so severely that he died from his injuries said it was aware that the suspect – an assistant warden – had a criminal record, but decided to give him a second chance.

In the first statement issued since the death of Mohamad Thaqif Amin Mohd Gaddafi on Wednesday, the school said it did not wish to defend anybody’s actions or whitewash the situation, but merely needed to state its side of the incident.

“The statement is being made because after two weeks of receiving criticism and threats, we finally decided to speak up as we are worried that if no explanation is given, it will open the door to lies (fitnah) and that the public will continue to question us,” the statement said.

Thaqif died from health complications after the doctor decided to postpone a surgery to remove the right arm that had succumbed to infection and was unresponsive to treatment.

He had both legs amputated below the knee as a result of the alleged beating that he suffered as a pupil at the school.

The school said the suspect had admitted to his criminal past after he was hired.

“It makes us understand that he was trying to be sincere in improving his life. We also know that he was given a parole and released early from the prison for good behaviour.

“Because of that, we felt that if the prison director said that he has changed and is eligible for early release, why couldn’t we, as members of the community, give him a second chance?

“Is that your principle – not to give a chance to others to be better?”

The school management also said the suspect, who was not a religious teacher, was a good employee prior to the incident. However, they admitted that his actions of using a rubber hose on the victim was “indefensible”.

“But please understand that it was not like what all of you imagine,” it said in the statement.

The management also said the school is equipped with 24 closed-circuit television cameras, and that all footage still in the system had been handed over to the police.

“What do you imagine when you talk about abuse? That it happens everyday? The children are tortured, whipped with rubber hoses without any consideration and with all the might of an adult against a child? If that is what you imagine, then it’s totally wrong,” said the statement.

They said the school had also submitted to police six other letters written by Thaqif, which they hoped would help authorities paint a clearer picture of the real situation that the victim faced in school.

The tahfiz, or Islamic religious, school has 109 pupils and 17 staff members, including teachers, a warden, administrative staff, multimedia officer, cook, cleaner and general duties staff.

The school was built with funds from Muslim donors, the statement said.

“Whatever contributions we get, it will be used to complete the facilities so they can study with ease. It is not a luxurious place but it is manageable.”

The school is equipped with basic necessities like hostels, classrooms, a surau, dining hall, badminton court, futsal court, gymnasium and others including an administrative system.

The premises has received a safety approval from the Fire and Rescue Department as well as Health Department.

The school is also registered under Johor Islamic Religious Department and has been allowed to operate for five years until 2021.

In the statement, the school management urged those spreading rumours and lies about the school to repent.

It also welcomed members of the public who wanted to visit the school in order to have a better understanding of the conditions there and how it is being run.

The assistant warden is currently under remand to facilitate police investigation under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder. – April 30, 2017.