Nine soldiers were arrested today on suspicion of gang raping a 17-year-old Johor girl in December

Nine soldiers arrested on suspicion of gang-raping Kluang teen

SAFEEK AFFENDY RAZALI
New Straits Times23 February 2018



KUALA LUMPUR: Nine soldiers were arrested today on suspicion of gang raping a 17-year-old Johor girl in December last year.

The suspects – all 23-year-olds – are Class 2 Artillery Course 3/2017 series students of the 33rd Royal Artillery Regiment (RAD) in Kluang, Johor.

The arrests were made by the Malaysian Armed Forces’ Special Investigation Branch following the receipt of information from the police.

Johor police chief Datuk Mohd Khalil Kader Mohd said the men were detained after the alleged victim lodged a report at the Kluang District Police Headquarters (IPD) on Wednesday.

"In her report, the (alleged) victim said she befriended one of the suspects, who later introduced her to eight of his friends at a hotel in Kluang on Dec 23.

“She claimed she was raped on the same day she met the suspects.

“She decided to lodge the police report after that," he said when contacted.

Mohd Khalil said Armed Forces investigation officers have handed over information on the suspects to the Kluang police, who are leading the investigation.

"All (nine) have been remanded for seven days from today until March 1 to facilitate investigations.

“The case is being probed under Section 376 of the Penal Code," he added, but declined to provide details, saying that the investigation is ongoing.

It is learnt that an identification parade involving the alleged victim will be organised by the police soon. © New Straits Times Press