KUALA LUMPUR, July 10 — Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) today clarified that security of athletes at the SUKMA games village was under the jurisdiction of the SUKMA Safety Committee.
UPM vice chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Mohd Fauzi Ramlan said UPM played an assisting role to the committee and was only responsible for taking care of accommodation and traffic.
“UPM had handed over the safety of athletes to the committee. UPM prepared the accommodation and responsible for security outside the accommodation area,” he said in a statement, here, today.
Local dailies had reported that three players from the FT men’s handball team that competed in the SUKMA had allegedly taken turns to rape a chaperon at the women’s hostel in UPM, last Wednesday.
The three players, aged between 18 and 19, were later detained by police and remanded after the victim had lodged a police report at the Serdang police station.
Mohd Fauzi said according to the rules and regulations of the university, alcohol was among items prohibited at the UPM.
“UPM’s security will check cars with athletes inside and allow only those with valid identification cards. They however, do not have the power to check what was inside the vehicles,” he said.
He added that UPM would work closely with the National Sports Council and assist police who are carrying out investigations into the incident. — Bernama
