Johor student charged with the murder of Form Four classmate Irene Sofiya

Johor student charged with the murder of Form Four classmate Irene Sofiya



Irene Sofiya Mohd Khairoul Faisal, 16, who was found dead in a Yong Peng, Johor school on October 3, 2026 and suspected to have been murdered. — Facebook pic


Summary

• In a closed-door session, a 16-year-old boy was charged in the Magistrate's Court in Batu Pahat with the murder of his classmate, Irene Sofiya Mohd Khairool Faisal, following the discovery of her body in a school hall.
• The incident occurred at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Dato' Seth in Yong Peng on October 3.
• The accused, protected by law due to his minor status, faces charges under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which may lead to significant penalties but excludes the death sentence for offenders under 18.
• The case will be addressed by the High Court, and further details are awaited.

First Published: Thursday, 15 Oct 2026 10:39 AM MYT


BATU PAHAT, Oct 15 — A 16-year-old schoolboy was charged in the Magistrate's Court here today with the murder of his classmate, Irene Sofiya Mohd Khairool Faisal, whose body was discovered inside a secondary school hall in Yong Peng earlier this month.

The accused, a Form Four student at the same school, nodded in understanding when the capital charge was read out to him before Magistrate Mustaqim Sukarno during a closed-door proceeding.


No plea was recorded from the teenager, whose identity is protected by law as a minor, because murder cases fall under the jurisdiction of the High Court.


According to the charge sheet, the accused is alleged to have murdered 16-year-old Irene Sofiya in Dewan Sri Tanjung at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Dato' Seth in Yong Peng between 2.30pm and 4.00pm on Oct 3.


The charge was framed under Section 302 of the Penal Code. Upon conviction, the offence carries the death penalty or a prison sentence of between 30 and 40 years, along with a minimum of 12 strokes of the cane.

Under Malaysian law, offenders under the age of 18 at the time of the offence cannot be sentenced to death, but may be detained at the pleasure of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong or the respective state Ruler.

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