M’sian Teacher Investigated After Allegedly Abusing a 7-Year-Old Autistic Child for Being Too Active

By Aqasha Nalani  •  in News
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image is for illustration purposes only (source: Straits International School)

Penang police are looking into allegations that a 7-year-old autistic girl was abused by her schoolteacher.

The case went viral online after photos of the special needs child’s injured ears were uploaded on Facebook by a user named Mona Din.

Mona’s Facebook post said that a friend had informed her through WhatsApp that a teacher at a special education class in Permatang Pauh had twisted her friend’s grandchild’s ears till they became blue and black.

(source: Facebook)

The victim’s family took the child to Bukit Mertajam Hospital and doctors who checked on the 7-year-old confirmed that what had happened was an abuse case.

However, when the family brought the issue to the school, they blamed it back on the autistic child saying that the child was misbehaving and the teacher was ‘forced’ to take the route of abusive punishment.

The teacher was also approached by the family and allegedly told them that their child was too active during the day of the incident. According to the teacher, the school was short-staffed and they could not possibly contain the child’s behaviour.

image is for illustration purposes only (source: NST)

The child’s mother stated that the school also informed her that her autistic child was not prepared for school and had issues that needed to be addressed. This is the first time she has ever heard this.

Before her child went to this school, the mother had sent her autistic daughter to other programs, like swim lessons and tutoring, yet she had never heard of such complaints.

While the Facebook post was written on 24th July, the child’s mother filed a police report on 19th July, about 9.30 a.m., the day the abuse occurred.

the mother’s statement posted on the Autisme Malaysia Facebook group

The case is being investigated under Section 323 of the Penal Code for inflicting bodily harm willingly.

According to NST, Assistant Commissioner Tan Cheng San of the Seberang Perai Tengah police department indicated that they are currently investigating the incident.

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