A 13-year-old boy from Malaysia has been awarded RM90,000 in damages after successfully suing his former teacher for assault. The incident, which occurred in 2019 when the boy was only eight years old, involved the teacher hitting him on the head with a broom, causing a serious injury.

According to reports from Kosmo!, the incident took place on 18 October 2019, around 3 p.m., when the young boy was returning to his seat in class. The teacher struck him on the head with a broom, leading to heavy bleeding. The boy was rushed to the Gombak Health Clinic, where he received five stitches for the head wound. Later that day, the boys father, Mohd. Amirul Azdi Md. Yusuf, lodged a police report, seeking clarification from the teacher about the assault. The teacher claimed the boy was hit for not sitting in his seat during class, a justification that was deemed unacceptable.

The High Courts ruling came after the boy's family, represented by his father, filed a lawsuit for negligence against the teacher, the school principal, and the Government of Malaysia. Justice Commissioner Datuk Hazizah Kassim, who presided over the case, noted that the teacher's actions were unreasonable and inhumane, particularly in a school setting where students are expected to be safe.

In her ruling, Justice Hazizah emphasized that using a broom to intimidate or discipline a student was completely unacceptable in todays educational environment. She expressed her hope that this case would serve as a lesson to prevent similar incidents in the future.

The court reviewed all evidence, including an earlier ruling by the Selayang Sessions Court, which had dismissed the boys claim. However, after hearing further arguments and evidence, the High Court overturned that decision. The judge also stated that while the boys disciplinary record at school was considered, it was irrelevant to the incident since the boy was only in Year Two at the time and should have been disciplined through appropriate methods.

As a result, the court ordered the first defendant, the former teacher, to pay RM15,000 in general damages, RM70,000 in exemplary damages, and RM5,000 in appeal costs. The second and third defendants, including the school principal and the Government of Malaysia, were not held vicariously liable for the teacher's actions.

This ruling highlights the importance of ensuring that disciplinary actions in schools are handled appropriately, and that students safety is prioritized at all times.

Source: KOSMO!