14-year-old Malaysian boy charged with murder of schoolmate in Selangor school stabbing case

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA: A 14-year-old boy was charged in the Petaling Jaya Magistrates’ Court on 22 October with the murder of his 16-year-old schoolmate, Yap Shing Xuen, at SMK Bandar Utama Damansara (4) last week.

According to the charge, the teenager allegedly caused Yap’s death in the girls’ washroom between 9.20am and 9.35am on 14 October. The charge was read out in Mandarin by a court interpreter.

No plea was recorded, as the case falls under the jurisdiction of the High Court.

The boy was charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which carries the death penalty or imprisonment between 30 and 40 years along with whipping.

However, as the accused is below 18 years old, Section 97(1) of the Child Act 2001 prohibits the imposition of the death sentence.

Upon conviction, the sentence may instead be replaced with imprisonment at the pleasure of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the Sultan, or the Yang di-Pertua Negeri, depending on the state where the offence occurred, according to a report by Malay Mail.

Deputy public prosecutor Raja Zaizul Faridah Raja Zaharudin represented the prosecution, while lawyer Anwar Ezzad Zainal appeared for the accused. The boy’s identity is withheld as he is a juvenile.

Selangor police chief Datuk Shazeli Kahar earlier said investigators are examining whether the suspect’s actions were influenced by violent video games or other online content.

“Video games could be one of them,” he said, according to local media, noting that the suspect’s use of gloves during the incident suggested an element of preparation.

Meanwhile, during the wake for her daughter, Yap’s mother, Wong Lee Ping, alleged that Yap had been stabbed approximately 200 times.

“We know online reports say 50 stab wounds, but in reality, my daughter suffered 200 stab wounds. She had 200 stab wounds from the stabbing. Not slashes, but stabs,” she said, adding that most injuries were on the right side of Yap’s body.

Wong further claimed she was informed that the suspect had jumped from above the lavatory cubicle where Yap was located before attacking her multiple times.

“By the time the teacher came and forced the door open, she was already gone,” Wong said.

However, police have yet to verify the claim that Yap suffered 200 stab wounds.

Yap was fatally stabbed on 14 October at her school in Bandar Utama, and the suspect was arrested shortly after the incident. Investigations into the motive and potential online influences remain ongoing.