POLICE have arrested two Singaporean brothers for allegedly abusing and sexually assaulting tahfiz pupils in Tanjung Minyak.

Malacca police chief Zainol Samah said the 40-year-old founder of the tahfiz centre and his brother, a 36-year-old hostel warden were arrested following six police reports.

“Six pupils at the centre, aged between 13 and 15, lodged the reports at the Batang Tiga police station yesterday,” he said in a statement today.

He said the suspects were arrested at the Tanjong Minyak tahfiz centre today.

Zainol said three of the pupils were forced to perform oral sex on the first suspect. The others claimed the hostel warden slapped, punched, stepped on and whipped them for not completing their duty to clean the centre on time.

These incidents were said to have occurred at the Tanjung Minyak and Alor Gajah centres, as well as at a condominium in Klebang several times.

The last time the incidents took place were on May 7.

“For now, the centre remains operational. The founder has a previous criminal record for committing physical sexual abuse and sodomy in 2019,” he said.

Zainol said the case is being investigated under section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 and section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001.

Police will apply remand orders for the suspects at the Ayer Keroh Court Complex tomorrow. – Bernama, May 12, 2023.