Saifur Rahman Ismail, 38, admitted to all the charges before magistrate Dzul Elmy Yunus at the Kota Kinabalu magistrates’ court, Harian Metro reported.

He was charged with voluntarily causing hurt under Section 323 of the Penal Code, which carries a jail term of up to one year, a fine of up to RM2,000, or both, upon conviction.

The court imposed a fine of RM1,400 for each charge, or three months’ jail in default. Saifur paid the fines.

In a video that went viral on social media, a man can be seen  striking a group of students with a helmet and kicking some of them outside a gaming zone outlet in Bandar Sierra near Kota Kinabalu.

During mitigation, defence lawyer Ari Nadzrah Rahman urged the court to impose a lighter sentence, saying Saifur worked as a religious teacher with an NGO and did not have a criminal record.

He said Saifur lost his temper after discovering that the students had left their hostel without permission at about 11.30pm.

“Although this is not an excuse to assault them, it is a factor that should be taken into consideration,” he said, adding that the victims only suffered minor injuries and bruises.

Deputy public prosecutor Fazriel Fardiansyah Kadir sought a heavy sentence, stressing the seriousness of the offence.

He also said good intentions cannot justify unlawful conduct.

Saifur was suspended from his duties at the madrasah following the incident.