Religious teacher charged with pulling student's nose

KUALA LUMPUR: A religious teacher faces possible jail time after being charged with pulling the nose of his student.

Mohd Zaid Yob, 31, claimed trial to intentionally causing harm by pulling the nose of the 12-year-old student at a classroom in SK Taman Sri Rampai, in Wangsa Maju, here, at around 11am on Aug 16.

The offence under Section 323 of the Penal Code carries a year's jail term and RM2,000 fine.

Deputy public prosecutor Noorelynna Hanim Abd Halim urged the court to set bail at RM4,000.

Defence lawyer Francis Pereira pleaded the court to consider social factors, including how it was part of a teacher's duty to discipline his students and that a high bail amount would affect the morale of other teachers.

"My client is a dedicated teacher who has been teaching for 12 years," he said in pleading for a lower bail. Mohd Zaid has three children to take care of.

Pereira said his client had also been injured after allegedly being attacked by the student's father.

Asked outside court, the DPP could not confirm if the father had been charged.

Magistrate Umzarul Annur Umar allowed bail at RM1,500 in one surety.

National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) secretary-general Harry Tan Huat Hock told reporters that he was grateful that the court allowed a relatively low bail amount.

He said NUTP was supporting the case and had hired Pereira to represent the accused.