Ex-teacher fined RM2,000 for kicking pupil in face

In a recent court hearing, a former Quran and Fardu Ain teacher has been fined RM2,000 by the Kuala Krai magistrates' court for inflicting harm to a Year 5 pupil in 2024. Magistrate Rais Imran Hamid handed down the maximum fine, which is equivalent to a four-month jail term, after Abdullah Mustakim, 33, admitted to voluntarily causing hurt to the student.

The incident occurred in a classroom at the school around 2:30 PM on October 23, 2024. Abdullah was charged under Section 323 of the Penal Code, which allows for up to one year in prison, a fine of RM2,000, or both upon conviction.

The defendant's lawyer, Farazalila Fauzi from the National Legal Aid Foundation, represented Abdullah, who is now employed as a laborer earning RM1,000 monthly. He supports his wife and three young children. According to the case facts, the pupil's mother was at a night market at approximately 5:15 PM on the day of the incident when her son informed her that Abdullah had kicked him in the face during a class at the school.