17 Nov 2003

New Caledonian teacher fined for using belt on student

6:28 am on 17 November 2003

A court in New Caledonia has fined a college teacher 800 US dollars for belting a student in the Baouva college in Poum.

The newspaper, Les Nouvelles Caledoniennes, says the tribunal heard how the teacher hit the form one student with his belt in front of other students.

Parents Associations had strongly protested over the beating, and the public prosecution said such action could not be tolerated.