A 14-YEAR-OLD student who went viral in a video showing him punching his teacher has changed his plea to not guilty during a closed-door hearing at the Kajang Magistrates' Court on Thursday.
The Form One transition student initially pleaded guilty but reversed his position during proceedings meant to review a character report from the Social Welfare Department (JKM), ahead of sentencing.
The charge was re-read in Tamil before Magistrate Fatin Dayana Jalil, with the courtroom closed to the public due to the accused’s minor status.
Speaking outside the courtroom, the student’s lawyer, S Priyalatha, said the boy, who is an only child, is not yet ready to admit guilt.
"He has asked for time to reflect and consider the implications of the case he is facing,” she said.
Priyalatha added that no further legal steps—such as submitting a representation or pursuing other actions—would be taken until the defence receives key documents from the prosecution.
As a result, the court has postponed the case to 9 October.
The prosecution was led by Deputy Public Prosecutor Siti Nur Alia Safri.
On 30 July, the teenager had initially pleaded guilty to a charge of voluntarily causing hurt to a 29-year-old male teacher at a secondary school at 4.48pm on 28 July.
The charge falls under Section 323 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum one-year prison sentence, a fine of up to RM2,000, or both, upon conviction.
The case drew public attention after a 38-second video circulated on social media, showing an altercation between two males, ending with the student striking the teacher on the cheek.
Outside the courtroom, the boy’s mother was seen in tears and pleaded with the public and authorities to give her son an opportunity to change. - September 11, 2025
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