Saturday, July 10, 2010

Forced Into It

Saturday July 10, 2010 - Student Beaten Up For Wanting To Leave Gang 


JOHOR BARU: A 17-year-old boy paid a hefty price to get out of a gang - he was abducted outside his school and beaten up by 30 gang members.
Lim Bing Li, a Form 5 student of Foon Yew High School in Stulang Laut here, was abducted at about 6pm on Friday by 30 men who came in five cars.
They took Lim to a secluded area in Senibong, Permas Jaya, where the gang leader beat him with a fishing rod and wooden sticks, while the rest of the gang members surrounded him.
Lim, who suffered a head injury that required 12 stitches and bruises on his arms, face and back, was left there bleeding.
A motorcyclist who saw him took him to a nearby clinic for treatment and later helped him lodge a report at the Permas Jaya police station.
After that Lim was taken to the Sultanah Aminah Hospital for further check-up by his father.
At the hospital Lim said he had joined the gang, which was involved in illegal gambling, last year and wanted to get out.
He added that being beaten up was part of the initiation for any member wanting to leave.
Johor Baru (South) OCPD Asst Comm Zainuddin Yaakob urged anyone with information to contact the police hotline at 07-2212999 or the nearest police station.

******

That is what appeared in today's Star.

I remembere there was once, a mother came to me apologising for her daughter's long absent from class.

Seeing her red eyes, I had to be careful with my choice of words, and lost all of it - speechless.
I just hold her hands very tightly, and... she burst out.

The tense situation took quite a while before she felt composed.

Her 15 year-old son had not been coming back home regularly and it became a great worry for both parents.


Knowing he is a well-behaved, obedient and studious student mixing with only good company, blending himself with secret society is never in the parents' dream, but that's what he was in.


Seeing the boy being naive, he was approached and befriended by one of the gang member, about his age. They were soon to become best friend and great buddies by drinking each other's blood.


Both parents only knew of their son's involvement in the triad activities after a call from his teacher enquiring of his long absent from school.
The parents and the boy were called into the principal room to discuss matters.
Police was called too and the boy promised to turn over a new leaf.


Police was on a lookout outside the school compound to question his buddy but he no longer appear to be with him after school.


Hopefully, it was all over with the buddy absent from school. But, it makes matter worst.

The son would go out any time of the day and night, unpredictable of when he will be coming back.
When asked where did he sleep when he was not sleeping at home, his reply was, he slept at the void deck of any block of flat which he was not even sure of the number or the street address.
He was getting zombier each passing day, missing his school and not remembering his family.


The father, whenever getting the information of the son still not home at night, would then, straight from his working place, do his own search, at any blocks of flat which his legs brought him, sometime until the wee hours, or till the next morning. His search was island wide.


The son had went counselling, yet matters were worsening for him.


Only with traditional and spiritual consultations, was it made known that his spirit and soul had been charmed and trapped by the triad which he was involved.
That's the reason for the boy always in daze and unaware of his doings.


Upon checking, he had a 'small figurine' in his schoolbag, which he was not even sure what it was or who had put it there...   

6 comments:

Naz in Norway said...

It's better to be more on the strict side when dealing with teenagers, regardless of where we reside.
But then again, research has shown that peers have more influence than parents in shaping teenagers' mind/value system. Just like the cases that you put forward here.
Scary.

Ummie said...

The boy was leading a normal student life & a home person until this outsider buddy, not his schoolmate, came into picture.
Pity the exhausted parents as 'the figurine' keep coming back.

RoseBelle said...

The teen years is one of the most complicated and rebellious years. Peer pressure is enormous. I know a young teenage spirit because I was a teenager once too.
My son is 15 and I watch over his shoulders but at the same time, give him some space because I don't want him to feel suffocated by strict rules. I take precautions in sudden changes in his behavior and eating habits. So far, so good.

Ummie said...

Although I do not know the current outcome, the family then was living a nightmare life -
The promising boy's future was dashed as he's a totally changed person, living a robot life, controlled from afar.

Unknown said...

This can be really complicated. Being a teenager can be a huge challenge. Its the right time to make wise choices. The ones who make a mistake there can lose a lot in future.

Ummie said...

Choice, peer pressure, environment...
I should say luck plays an important role in one's living too.
Do good to others as we want others to do good to us.
Hoping & Praying for the Best of Luck for All of Us.