The 37-year-old woman said she had heard the story from her daughter, who attends a government primary school.

She said the girl had come home from school crying and complaining that her back and stomach hurt.

According to her police report, the child is now too traumatised to go back to school.

The mother has provided investigating officers with pictures of the bruises on the girl’s back, and police are looking into what could have caused the teacher to hurt the child.

When contacted, northeast police chief ACP Anuar Omar said officers took statements from the woman and her daughter yesterday.

He said the case will be investigated under Section 323 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt. It has also been referred to the public prosecutor’s office.