NILAI: The father of the student involved in the prosecution case of Azizan Manap, better known as Cikgu Azizan, failed to show up at a press conference which he himself had called this morning.
The 50-year-old, who declined to be named, had initially asked reporters to meet him in front of Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Taman Semarak between 9.30am to 10am today.
The press conference was supposed to clear the air on the events behind the court case involving his 11-year-old son, which has since gained national interest.
More than 20 media practitioners had gathered at the location as early as 9am. They waited for more than four hours before a representative from the family informed them that the press conference had been cancelled.
It was learnt that the decision was made as the family was still feeling under pressure following the events of the court case.
The Seremban magistrate's court yesterday discharged Azizan Manap, 44, without amounting to an acquittal, from a charge of injuring his pupil, last April.
The decision came about after the deputy public prosecutor said they had received instructions from the Attorney-General's Chambers to withdraw the charge.
Azizan, who is also SK Taman Semarak senior assistant in charge of student affairs, was charged with causing injuries on the left cheek of the pupil, an offence he allegedly committed at the school's assembly area at 7am on Apr 6.
Azizan was charged under Section 323 of the Penal Code which provides for maximum imprisonment of one year or a maximum fine of RM2,000 or both, upon conviction.
Azizan, who was represented by lawyer Francis Pereira, was previously charged in the Magistrate's Court of Seremban on Oct 31.