KUANTAN: Dissatisfaction and revenge might have led to the death of an 11-year-old boy who was allegedly choked, kicked and slammed on the floor by a senior at a children's home near here yesterday.
The suspect, a 16-year-old senior, had earlier accused the victim of stealing RM4 of his money, but the latter did not take the matter seriously, which irked the suspect.
The victim, a Year Five pupil, was rushed by a 35-year-old warden to the Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital (HTAA) here about 4.30pm where he was later pronounced dead.
District police chief Assistant Commissioner Wan Mohd Zahari Wan Busu said initial investigations revealed that three boys, including the suspect, had brought the victim to the warden's house located some 50m from the surau where the victim was allegedly attacked.
"The trio placed the victim at the warden's house porch. The warden noticed the victim still moving and assumed he had suffered a seizure.
"The warden alerted another hostel supervisor before they rushed the victim to HTAA where a doctor informed that the victim had died. The warden lodged a police report," he said in a statement today.
Wan Zahari said prior to the incident, eight boys including the suspect and victim, were instructed by the warden to clean the surau.
He said it is learnt that the victim was accused of stealing the RM4 which belonged to the suspect.
"The suspect had reprimanded the victim but he appeared not to take the matter seriously. This had angered the suspect who had allegedly choked and slammed the victim on the floor until he passed out.
'There were seven other witnesses during the incident, all of whom were students occupying the same hostel at the home. The police forensics team are at the scene to gather evidence, " he said.
He said the suspect has been remanded until March 27 and the case is being investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder.