GEORGE TOWN: The case of secondary school teacher Lau Teik Hwa, charged with hitting a student with a cane, is one step closer to going to trial.
Lau, who attended case mention proceedings at the court complex here on Tuesday (Nov 11), appeared calm as his lawyer Koay Ee Teng said the prosecution had yet to hand over documents about the case.
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Magistrate Tunku Intan Nadiah Tunku Mohammed Nazarin then set Dec 10 for mention and for the documents to be handed over.
Outside the court, DPP Siti Nur Farihin Ahmad said the case would then proceed to trial when the dates are set on Dec 10.
On Oct 6, Lau, a father of three, claimed trial to charges of intentionally causing injury to a then 15-year-old student by using a cane in the discipline room of SMJK (C) Chung Hwa Confucian.
The incident was said to have taken place at around 4pm on Aug 2, 2023.
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In a separate court on Oct 6, teacher Choong Kean Beng, 59, who has since retired, was charged with intentionally causing injury to the same student with a cane in the discipline room of the school at around 5.30pm on Dec 6, 2023.
Both offences were framed under Section 324 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt by using a dangerous weapon or means, which carries a maximum 10-year jail term, a fine or caning, or both, upon conviction.
Lau and Chong both pleaded not guilty.
