Irene Sofiya murder: Classmate to be charged today

BATU PAHAT: A Form Four student will be charged in the magistrate's court today with murdering 16-year-old Irene Sofiya Mohd Khairool Faisal at a hall in a secondary school in Yong Peng on Oct 3.

According to the e-Judiciary system, the 16-year-old boy, who was Irene Sofiya's classmate, is scheduled to be charged before magistrate Mustaqim Sukarno at 9am.

He will face a charge under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder.

It is learnt that the decision to charge him was made after the investigation papers were referred to the Johor State Legal Adviser's Office before being submitted to the prosecution for further action.

Irene Sofiya, affectionately known as Fiya, was found unconscious and covered in blood at a school hall in Yong Peng at about 5.50pm before she was pronounced dead.

The only daughter in her family had reportedly failed to return home after her extra classes ended at 5pm.

A friend who noticed a motorcycle at the school went to Fiya's grandmother's house to ask whether she had returned home.

After learning that Fiya had not returned, her grandmother, aunt and friend went to look for her at the school.

The search ended when her friend found Fiya lying inside the school hall.

Following the incident, police detained the boy, who was also Fiya's classmate, to assist in the investigation.

The suspect has been remanded since Oct 4, with his remand period scheduled to end today.