Police investigate suspected mischief after classroom chair catches fire

 

Police are investigating a suspected case of mischief after a plastic chair was found set on fire inside a classroom at a secondary school in Kampar yesterday. -- PICS COURTESY OF KAMPAR POLICE

KAMPAR: Police are investigating a suspected case of mischief after a plastic chair was found set on fire inside a classroom at a secondary school here yesterday.

District police chief Superintendent Mohamad Nazri Daud said police received a report from a 17-year-old school prefect who discovered the burning chair during a routine classroom inspection during recess at about 10.30am.

"The complainant said he detected the smell of smoke coming from a classroom before entering it and finding a plastic chair on fire.

"He immediately alerted nearby teachers, who managed to put out the fire using a wet cloth before it spread," he said when contacted today.

Nazri said initial investigations found that the classroom was located at the end of a three-storey school block, which was not equipped with closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras.

He said the prefect informed police that no one was in the block at the time of the incident as all students had been instructed to attend a counselling programme at the school hall.

"The school has conducted its own internal investigation, while police are also investigating the incident.

"However, no individual has admitted responsibility and there is no evidence to confirm that any student was involved in setting the chair on fire.

"The matter is currently being handled by the school authorities," he said.

Nazri added that the police report was lodged for the school's reference following its internal inquiry.

Asked whether a student who had been suspended from school was linked to the incident, he said police had found no evidence connecting the student to the offence.

"We have conducted investigations, but no one has admitted responsibility and there is no evidence to confirm that any student was involved in the act.

"The matter is now being handled by the school authorities," he said.

Meanwhile, Facebook user Mohd Fadli Salleh claimed he received a message alleging that a student had set the classroom on fire due to dissatisfaction after being suspended from school for two weeks.

He also claimed, based on the information received, that several teachers and the principal were away on a trip to Thailand when the incident occurred. - NST