SINGAPORE – The family of the man suspected of assaulting three madrasah students last Friday (April 1) has come forward to the Muslim community, Today reported.
The news publication was contacted by the brother of Koh Weng Onn, a 48-year-old security guard who faces three charges including causing hurt that was “racially aggravated” over the alleged attacks on three girls aged aged 14 to 16 near Paya Lebar MRT station.
Muhammad Johan Koh, 49, told Today that his brother has been suffering from mental issues since young, and that he was admitted to the Institute of Mental Health in the 1990s but refused treatment.
“After all that has happened, this is our way of apologising to the Malay-Muslim community,” the elder Mr Koh, who is a Muslim convert, said.
Three female students were making their separate ways to Madrasah Al-Ma’arif Al-Islamiah in Geylang around 7.20am last Friday when the suspect allegedly accosted them.
According to the school’s discipline mistress Nisha Mohd Hussein, the first girl was allegedly kicked on the left thigh, while the second and third were allegedly hit with a plastic bag containing “a heavy item”.
The suspect was arrested the next day (April 2).
huizhen@sph.com.sg
