Koran teacher admits assault on boy, 13, during lesson at Hong Kong Islamic learning centre
- Shahzad Khan pleads guilty to hitting, slapping and punching boy after his failure to recite Koran verse
- Boy underwent six-hour operation after assault left him with detached retina
A volunteer teacher of the Koran has admitted an assault on a 13-year-old boy during a lesson at a Hong Kong Islamic learning centre, which left the pupil with a detached retina.
Shahzad Khan, 35, pleaded guilty to the offence on Tuesday at Eastern Magistrates’ Court after the Department of Justice asked to change the charge from causing grievous bodily harm to assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
Both offences carry a maximum penalty of three years in jail.
The charge amendment was approved by Magistrate Minnie Wat Lai-man.
The case notes showed that Khan hit the boy’s back three times and slapped him in the face five times after the child failed to recite a Koran verse during a lesson at the Madrassa Taleemul Furqan Islamic Union in Quarry Bay last August 5.
Khan also punched the boy in his glasses, which left him with a detached retina in his left eye.
The boy later underwent a six-hour operation at the Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital.
Prosecutor Pierre Lui Ming-chun said on Tuesday that the boy’s vision was “still very blurry” and had yet to return to pre-assault levels.
Defence counsel Richard Donald said that while the incident was “so unfortunate”, Khan only wanted the boy to learn the Koran “in a proper way” and “never intended to hurt or harm” him.
Donald added that Khan had shown remorse and was willing to compensate the victim’s family with HK$20,000 (US$2,558).
Wat warned that Khan might have to face time in jail because of the serious nature of the offence.
“The defendant was out of character,” she said. “The victim is underage.”
She adjourned the case until July 15 for a medical report on the boy’s medical condition before sentence is passed.
Khan was released on HK$50,000 bail.
