KOTA KINABALU: The police are warning people to stop distributing a video of the alleged rape involving seven SPM candidates and a 14-year-old girl at a Tawau school.

Tawau OCPD Asst Comm Peter Umbuas said that those found to be spreading the video can be convicted of an offence under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.

He added that if found guilty of the offence, a person can face a RM50,000 fine, a jail term of up to a year or both upon sentencing.

ACP Umbuas also said that those found to be possessing a copy of the video can face a maximum three-year sentence, a fine or both as having pornographic materials is an offence under the Penal Code.

As for the video itself, he said that a police forensics team is in the midst of verifying whether it was taken during the alleged rape at about 11am on Nov 15.

He also said that the public should not harass any of the suspects or witnesses in this case pending the police investigation.

ACP Umbuas added that the seven suspects were currently out on bail as they have to sit for their SPM examinations, while the 14-year-old is getting the help she needs including counselling.

He said more efforts will be done together with schools to prevent such incidents.

“Whether or not the matter is consensual, underage sex is statutory rape, ” he said when asked about rumours that the incident was consensual.