Fourteen boys at a top religious school in Negri Sembilan have been arrested for allegedly beating a brilliant scholar to death because they were jealous of him, local media reported today.

The victim, Mohamad Faris Ibrahim, 16, had complained of constant bullying after arriving at the SM Agama Datuk Klana Putra Ma'amor school in Seremban just a month ago and had asked his family to move him, the New Straits Times said.

Head injuries

He was found sprawled in a toilet at the school hostel on Sunday afternoon, bleeding profusely from head injuries and died shortly after being admitted to hospital.

Mohamad Faris, a top student and popular with teachers, was attacked by the other students because they were jealous, The Star newspaper said.

Police have classified the case as murder and the 14 Form Five students, aged about 17, have been remanded in custody for four days for questioning. - AFP