Melaka police chief Dzulkhairi Mukhtar said a report was filed by the victim’s mother on April 29.

He said the victim was believed to have been assaulted, kicked, had his head submerged in a bucket filled with water, and dragged across the toilet floor by the suspects, Bernama reported.

Dzulkhairi said the victim, residing at Rumah Anak Yatim Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Al Haj in Pantai Puteri, was allegedly bullied by senior students known to him.

“Following the report, a team of officers and personnel from the criminal investigation division of the Melaka Tengah police headquarters detained four male students, aged between 15 and 16, on April 30 at about 3.45pm,” he said in a statement today.

Dzulkhairi said the suspects are secondary school students with no criminal record, and urine screening tests returned negative.

He said they were released on police bail after their statements were recorded.

The case is being investigated under Section 507B of the Penal Code, which provides for imprisonment of up to three years, or a fine or both, upon conviction.

He also advised the public not to speculate or spread unverified information regarding the case.