KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia >> Prosecutors in Malaysia have charged a school warden with the murder of a 7-year-old boy accused of stealing money from a classmate.

Deputy public prosecutor Azman Abu Hassan says 26-year-old Hanif Mohamad Ali faces death by hanging if he is convicted of murdering the boy at a private Islamic school in northern Perlis state.

He says Saiful Syazani Saiful Sopfidee lapsed into a coma on March 31 after allegedly being tied to a window for two hours, caned and beaten up after being accused of stealing 7 ringgit ($2.30).

Azman says Saiful died in a hospital three days later with multiple head and body injuries. He said Thursday it was believed to be one of Malaysia’s worst student abuse cases.