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

A Form 5 student at a school in Seremban reportedly created about 200 deepfake images targeting numerous female students. (Rawpixel pic) PETALING JAYA: Lawyers representing victims in a case involving AI-generated pornographic images of female students at a secondary school in Seremban have alleged that police breached SOPs by making them face the suspect during identification.

Law firm Ng Kian Nam & Partners said the decision left the victims worried that the suspect might retaliate against them.

“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.

“This is especially concerning given that the victims are minors who require greater protection and sensitivity from the police in accordance with the Child Act 2001,” it said in a statement today.

The law firm expressed concern that the suspect might attend classes alongside the victims tomorrow.

It warned that this could raise safety concerns which the school’s management and police must bear full responsibility for.

They also urged the school’s board of governors to assist in the investigation, including by helping establish whether the principal had abused her authority or breached procedures or the law in handling the case.

The statement follows the questioning of the victims, their parents and several witnesses at the Seremban police headquarters yesterday. The principal and senior assistant for student affairs were also called to give statements.

The lawyers said the suspect, a Form 5 student, was brought to the station with his guardian.

They also claimed that some of the images in question were found on another mobile phone, in addition to the phone initially discovered in the school’s prayer room.

The student reportedly created about 200 deepfake images targeting numerous female students at the school.

The firm said its clients were satisfied with the police’s response to the case, but had received complaints from underage witnesses who alleged that officers questioned them aggressively, making them feel as though they were suspects.

The lawyers also said police initially sought to seize the victims' mobile phones, but later allowed them to take the devices home after representations were made.

Negeri Sembilan police chief Alzafny Ahmad said yesterday that police had received five reports involving victims aged between 14 and 17, lodged by their parents or guardians between Aug 20 and 23.

In a Bernama report, he said the Form 5 student had been suspended from classes from Aug 24 to 28 as disciplinary action by the school.

Alzafny said the investigation was being conducted under Section 5 of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, which criminalises the production of child pornography.

The section provides for up to 30 years' imprisonment and at least six strokes of the cane, upon conviction.

The case is also being probed under Section 292 of the Penal Code, which criminalises activities involving obscene material. The section provides for up to three years' imprisonment, a fine or both, upon conviction.