Student victims in deepfake case shouldn’t have faced suspect, police told

A secondary school in Seremban has been at the centre of a controversial case involving AI-generated pornographic images of female students. Lawyers representing the victims have alleged that police breached standard operating procedures (SOPs) during identification parades, leaving the minors worried about potential retaliation from the suspect.

"The police's actions clearly did not follow SOPs for identification parades, which should be conducted under strict conditions to ensure suspects cannot see the identities of victims," the law firm Ng Kian Nam & Partners stated. The firm expressed concern that the suspect could attend classes alongside the victims, raising safety concerns that must be addressed by the school and police.

They urged the school board to assist in the investigation, including determining if the principal had abused her authority or violated procedures or laws. The suspect, a Form 5 student, was questioned alongside his guardian at the Seremban police headquarters, along with the principal and senior assistant for student affairs. The law firm noted that some of the images were found on another mobile phone, in addition to the one initially discovered in the school's prayer room.

While the lawyers were satisfied with the police's response, they received complaints from underage witnesses who claimed they were questioned aggressively, making them feel like suspects. Police have received five reports of similar incidents involving victims aged 14 to 17, lodged between August 20 and 23. The suspect has been suspended from classes until August 28, and the investigation is being conducted under the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 and the Penal Code.