BENTONG, April 2 — A 37-year-old army corporal has been arrested after allegedly assaulting seven younger soldiers at the 25th Battalion Royal Malay Regiment (RAMD) camp here, leaving one of the victims unconscious and in critical condition.

Bentong district police chief Supt Zaiham Mohd Kahar confirmed the incident, saying a report was lodged on Tuesday morning by the 49-year-old father of one of the victims.

He said preliminary investigations revealed the assault occurred at about 8.00pm on Monday, where the corporal allegedly punched, struck, and kicked the victims on several parts of their bodies.

“One of the victims, aged 24, was reported to have lost consciousness and is still receiving treatment at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Hospital Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah, Temerloh,” Zaiham said in a statement last night.

“The victim remains unconscious and requires respiratory assistance.”

He added that the six other victims, aged between 19 and 22, were sent to Hospital Bentong for examination.

Following the report, police arrested the 37-year-old corporal at 2.30pm on Tuesday to assist in the investigation.

The case is being investigated under Section 325 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing grievous hurt, and the suspect has been remanded for four days until April 4.

Zaiham urged the public not to speculate on the case as it could interfere with the ongoing investigation.