Visiting uni student says his campus sexual assault covered up, more victims

A Japanese exchange student at University of Malaya (UM) is accusing the institution of covering-up his alleged sexual assault. The incident occurred April 30, after which the student filed a complaint, saying another male student had inappropriately touched him. He has since posted his ordeal on social media, saying he hopes the attention will lead to justice, and change.

The victim had previously told the other student that his advances were unwelcome. A Google document shared by the Japanese student detailed the lead-up to the attack, where he was made to feel systematically uncomfortable by the other boy, who often told the victim that his physical behavior was the cultural norm here. Finally, the situation came to a head when the attacker forced himself on the visiting student, and tried to engage him in sexual action.

The victim lodged a police report after his university failed to take action; however, the university then strong-armed him into withdrawing the report, to “protect its reputation.”

He detailed that, despite airing his grievances to the International Student Center (ISC), to the university’s security office and to the college principal, nothing was done. The attacker was not reprimanded in any way, and even approached the victim, begging him to withdraw the report.

The following day, he learned that he was not the first victim, but that a Taiwanese student had also filed a similar complaint against the same attacker, who had operated with the same modus operandi used with the Japanese victim.

The Japanese student details that it was only after both boys filed a complaint with their respective embassies that the ISC director, who he names as Ms Salmi, approached the two and held a meeting.

During the meeting Ms Salmi added insult to injury, according to the victim, by implying that the Taiwanese student was at fault for not filing a police report over the first incident, although he had reported it to ISC. It was then that the Japanese boy was asked to withdraw the police report he had made.

He then makes it clear in his detailing of the meeting that it was not to hear about the attacks, but rather about “protecting themselves.” He writes “they were laughing at the beginning.”

Both victims have returned back to their respective countries. One may wonder if the university intended to play this out until everyone went back home, and the dust would settle. Tellingly, neither of the students’ mother universities were informed over the incidents.

However, the Japanese student made his situation public, sharing his experience openly via social media and calling for a halt to international exchange programs at University of Malaya, since the institution was incapable of protecting its visitors.

He asks for legal action against the attackers, punishment against the ISC for not taking any of the reports seriously, and finally an official apology from the university.

Reasonable requests, and the retribution is decidedly noble in asking merely for justice to take its course and for sorry to be said.

Let’s see if we’re ready to stop sweeping under the carpet, and instead, take out the trash.

 



Reader Interactions

Leave A Reply


BECOME A COCO+ MEMBER

Support local news and join a community of like-minded
“Coconauts” across Southeast Asia and Hong Kong.

Join Now
Coconuts TV
Our latest and greatest original videos
Subscribe on