Guru tampar pelajar diarah bayar ganti rugi RM88,069

Kota Bharu High Court has ordered a secondary school teacher in Kelantan to pay the full amount of RM88,069 in compensation to a student who was allegedly assaulted four times in 2019. Hakim Rosli Yusoff ruled after approving a civil suit filed by Adam Maidin, 21, through his 47-year-old mother, Noor Azleen Mohamad, against history teacher Isamuddin Ismail, 63, and three other defendants.

The court found the teacher had physically assaulted the victim by hitting her face and both ears with both hands from behind. The victim suffered injuries to her face and both ears, as well as hearing loss, tinnitus, and buzzing in the ears. The court also found the teacher as a responsible educator to take care of students, according to Sinar Harian.

The three other defendants were the school principal, education officer, and government official, all represented by Federal Public Defender Siti Syakimah Ibrahim. At around 10:30 am, the victim was reportedly with classmates when the teacher approached her from behind and assaulted her four times. As a result, the victim suffered trauma to her face and both ears, as well as hearing loss, discomfort, and buzzing in the ears.

The victim was taken to Berak Health Clinic 12 for treatment before being referred to Universiti Sains Malaysia Kubang Kerian for specialist ear examination. A medical report issued in June 2019 found the victim had hearing problems in her right ear, including partial hearing loss ranging from mild to moderate, diagnosed as an injury caused by trauma.

The traumatized student had to transfer schools about a month later due to fear of confronting the teacher, and it is estimated to take her two to three years to recover from the trauma. The plaintiff's lawyer, Syukran Mohd Noordin, said the RM88,069 ordered by the court includes RM45,000 for general damages, RM569 for special damages, RM11,250 for exemplary damages, and RM11,250 for punitive damages, in addition to interest and costs amounting to RM20,000.