The body of 11-year-old Mohamad Thaqif Amin Mohd Ghaddafi, who died in April after suspected abuse at his tahfiz school, was exhumed yesterday afternoon.

Malay daily Berita Harian quoted his aunt Dzuraidah Ahmad saying the exhumation was done about 3pm at the Muslim burial ground in Felda Bukit Aping, Kota Tinggi, Johor, in the presence of family, court officials, police and medical personnel.

"It's true that Thaqif's grave was dug open yesterday evening to enable samples from the deceased's legs to be taken for further tests," she said.

Kota Tinggi police chief Superintendent Ashmon Bajah confirmed to the daily that the exhumation was done upon court orders under Section 355 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

Thaqif was allegedly beaten on March 24 with a rubber hose by a warden at the religious school he was in.

When he was taken to a hospital on April 19, he was found to be suffering from bacterial infection in all his limbs. This caused doctors to amputate both his legs and he was also set to lose one of his arms, before he died on April 26.

The 26-year-old warden, who was arrested by the police following the boy's death, was later found to have served jail time for theft several years ago.

The school involved, Madrasah Tahfiz Al-Jauhar (MTAJ), had also distanced itself from the boy's death, saying abuse was not the right term to describe what had happened to the boy, and that there was no reason for Thaqif to be singled out for beatings.

It also said that the use of rubber hoses to punish students had never been allowed in the school.

Early this month, inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar said that police have to continue the probe into the alleged abuse after the investigation papers were returned by the Attorney-General's Chambers.

He however, confirmed that the case was still being investigated for murder, despite the suspect being released on bail.