A Form Five student with autism fell from a school building after being reprimanded for bringing a phone, sustaining serious but stable injuries as police investigate.
SUNGAI PETANI: A Form Five student with hearing impairment and autism is believed to have fallen from the third floor of his secondary school building here following an incident where he was reprimanded for bringing a mobile phone to school.
Kedah police chief Datuk Adzli Abu Shah said the cause was still under investigation, but initial findings indicated the student was reprimanded by a teacher on February 26, though the phone was not confiscated.
He confirmed the victim, who had previously been referred to the school’s guidance and counselling services, had a history of frequent tantrums and difficulty accepting reprimands.
Police have interviewed the teacher involved and several others, with plans to take statements from additional witnesses to ensure a transparent investigation.
Adzli said doctors at Sultan Abdul Halim Hospital reported the student sustained serious injuries, including fractures to his left arm, left collarbone, and hip, along with an injury to his left lung, but his overall condition was stable.
“The injuries sustained are consistent with a fall,” he said, adding there were no head injuries or other wounds linked to bullying.
Further investigations are being conducted under Section 507D(2) of the Penal Code, with the police chief urging the public not to speculate on the incident.
The Kedah State Education Department stated it would fully cooperate with the police investigation and would not tolerate any bullying or criminal acts if found.
According to the department, a school cleaning worker found the student lying in the Block A building area and provided immediate assistance before rushing him to the hospital.
The school authority promptly informed the parents, with the incident occurring while other students and staff were at the assembly ground.
An initial review of closed-circuit television footage suggested the student may have fallen from the third floor, where his bag was found near two chairs along the corridor.
