SINGAPORE: Five teenagers have been arrested in connection with a bullying incident involving a Qihua Primary School pupil.

The police confirmed on Wednesday (25 September), that they had identified the teenagers involved and arrested five individuals suspected of rioting.

According to a police statement, “The police take a serious view of such acts of violence and blatant disregard of the law. We will not hesitate to take action and deal with the offenders in accordance with the law.”

Authorities also indicated that investigations into the incident are ongoing.

The bullying incident came to public attention after a four-minute video surfaced online on 20 September.

In the video, a boy wearing a black T-shirt is seen punching a smaller boy dressed in a Qihua Primary School uniform. A voice in the background, speaking in Malay, is heard encouraging the violence, repeating, “again, again.”

As the video continues, the victim is knocked to the ground, then gets up, only to endure further blows from the larger boy, who kicks him in the abdomen.

In a later scene, the same attacker strikes the smaller boy in the head and knees him in the abdomen while they are in a stairwell. A second boy, wearing a grey hoodie, joins in and is seen kicking the victim.

The school’s administration responded to media inquiries by stating that they are counselling the affected pupils and working closely with their parents to ensure their well-being.

The school has not provided further details regarding when the incident took place or the specific measures being taken to address the situation.

The video has sparked significant concern online, with many calling for harsher penalties for bullying and greater supervision in schools.

SINGAPORE: The police are investigating a case involving a student from Qihua Primary School, who was repeatedly attacked by a teenager.

The investigation was launched after a video of the incident emerged online, the authorities confirmed on 23 September.

According to a report by CNA, a formal complaint has been lodged with the police, and the investigation is ongoing.

The video, which lasts approximately 43 seconds, has been circulating on social media platforms such as WhatsApp and Telegram.

It shows a teenager, dressed in a black T-shirt and jeans, physically assaulting a smaller boy wearing a school uniform from Qihua Primary, located in Woodlands.

In the video, the victim is cornered in a stairwell, where the teenager punches, kicks, and hurls him to the ground.

The aggressor orders the boy to put his hands behind his back before delivering punches to his stomach.

At several points, the boy is grabbed by the neck and thrown to the floor, where he continues to endure kicks and punches.

Throughout the attack, the boy repeatedly says, “Sorry, sorry, I won’t do it again,” while being taunted by the teenager and another individual, who may have been filming the incident.

At one point, the teenager can be heard asking, “You want to fight? You sure?” as the victim, now in tears, continues apologizing and insisting he will not repeat his actions.

The exact timing of the incident remains unclear.

Video source: Telegram/sgfollowsall

Qihua Primary School has acknowledged the situation, confirming that it is under police investigation.

“The safety and well-being of our students is our priority. We have provided counselling to the affected students and are working closely with their parents to ensure the well-being of all involved,” the school stated.

They further emphasized the importance of students looking out for each other and reporting any incidents of bullying to their teachers.

Second Bullying Video Emerges Within a Week

This incident marks the second time a bullying video has surfaced online in a week.

A separate TikTok video, posted about a week ago, showed a student from Bukit View Secondary School being taunted and kicked to the ground by a group of teenagers.

Bukit View Secondary School’s principal, Jaswant Singh, told The Straits Times that the incident occurred in October 2023 outside of school premises and was not initially reported to the school. The parents of the victim have since lodged a police report.

Following the video’s circulation, the school immediately checked on the victim, who did not report any injuries.

Mr Singh emphasized the school’s serious stance on such behaviour, stating that the students involved would be counseled and face appropriate disciplinary actions.

The victim’s parents have since lodged a police report. The police have confirmed that investigations are ongoing regarding the bullying incident.

In response to a Parliamentary Question filed by Melvin Yong, Member of Parliament for Radin Mas SMC, in September 2022, the Education Minister noted that since 2013, the number of reported bullying incidents has remained consistent, with approximately two cases per 1,000 primary students and five cases per 1,000 secondary students each year.

He emphasised that the MOE takes a serious stance on bullying and collaborates with schools to send a clear message that hurtful behavior is unacceptable in any school environment.

Helplines

If you or someone you know is in need of support, the following helplines are available:

• Samaritans of Singapore Hotline: 1767
• Singapore Association for Mental Health: 1800-283-7019
• Institute of Mental Health (24 hours): 6389-2222
• Tinkle Friend (for primary school-aged children): 1800-274-4788

You can discover a directory of global helplines on this page.

If someone you are aware of is facing an imminent threat, please dial 24-hour emergency services.