2007 05: Seven youths held over murder of mechanic

The Star online. News. Nation. Saturday May 19, 2007

KOTA BARU: Police have detained seven youths in connection with the murder of mechanic Mohd Romzi Ibrahim who had earlier tried to protect his younger brother from a group of school bullies.

At least 30 bullies had “stormed” the family’s hawker stall near their home in Jalan Kebun Sultan on Thursday evening, armed with hockey sticks, parang and iron rods, looking for Mohd Ramsafain, 16, a Form Four student of a school here.

They began hitting Romzi, 24, his father Ibrahim Harun and threatened his mother Rohana Seman.

“They hit Romzi repeatedly without mercy,” Rohana told reporters at HUSM where she had gone claim her son’s body.

Ramsafain said Romzi had gone to his school after a group of students tried to extort RM20 from him.

“I called my brother on my handphone and he came and chased them away with a stick,” he said.

He thought nothing of the incident and was having tea with the family at their stall when the group of bullies sprang on them.

Ramsafain said his father and brother were beaten unconscious by the group “who overpowered us”.

He claimed that bullying was rampant in the school.

State CID chief Asst Comm Mazlan Lazim urged victims to use the Rakan COP channel to overcome bullying incidents instead of handling them themselves.

He urged those with information on Romzi’s murder to call the police at 09-7455622 or SMS Rakan COP at 32728.