Student fabricates kidnapping claim after school restroom mix-up

A fabricated kidnapping claim that went viral in Kuala Nerang was revealed to be a fabrication by the 14-year-old student himself, according to Kedah police. The student had initially filed a police report alleging he was approached by two unknown men, handcuffed, bound, and forced into a vehicle.

He claimed to have been kicked out of the car near the Durian Burung border and rescued by locals. However, a detailed investigation by the Kedah and Padang Terap Criminal Investigation Departments found no truth to these claims. Police discovered the student had actually fled after mistakenly entering a women's restroom at his school's surau while waiting for football practice.

Panicked and embarrassed after being chased by female students who suspected his actions, the student hitched a ride to the Durian Burung area. He was later found wandering near a house, prompting the owner to contact the police due to his suspicious behavior. CCTV footage from the alleged kidnapping site also showed no sign of any suspects.

The student eventually admitted to fabricating the story, with police believing emotional distress from prior bullying at his old school may have influenced his actions. In a related development, four students were detained for investigation into a bullying case reported on June 18. Kedah police noted a significant drop in bullying cases, with only seven recorded in the first half of the year compared to 43 in the entirety of last year, attributing this to various awareness campaigns.