GEORGE TOWN: A Magistrate's Court here has set Nov 23 for the trial of a secondary school teacher, Lau Teik Hwa, who was charged with caning a student.
Magistrate Noor Idayu Salim fixed the trial for 11am, with the case to be heard jointly with that of retired teacher Choong Kean Beng, who was charged under the same provision for allegedly caning the same student.
Lau Teik Hwa, 48, was charged with voluntarily causing hurt to a then 15-year-old student using a cane in the discipline room of SMJK (C) Chung Hwa Confucian here at about 4pm on Aug 2, 2023.
The charge was framed under Section 324 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means.
The offence carries a maximum 10-year jail term, a fine, whipping or any two of the punishments upon conviction.
Lau had previously pleaded not guilty and was granted bail pending trial.
Defence lawyer Kok Yuen Lin said a representation letter seeking the withdrawal of the charge had been rejected by the prosecution, resulting in the case proceeding to trial.
The representation was submitted on Jan 16, with the case subsequently postponed several times on Feb 23, April 15, April 29 and June 24 before today's trial date was fixed.
In a separate case, Choong was charged with voluntarily causing hurt to the same student using a cane at the discipline room of SMJK (C) Chung Hwa Confucian at about 5.30pm on Dec 6, 2023.
He was also charged under Section 324 of the Penal Code.
