The Phnom Penh Municipal Court yesterday sentenced a father who slapped a high school student across the face in a fit of rage to one year in prison, reduced to three months, with the rest suspended.

Tep Khuon, 49, was charged with “intentional violence’’ after slapping 16-year-old Nhem Chanthida at Phnom Penh’s Boeung Keng Kang Chea Sim High School on July 1.

At his trial on September 16, Khuon claimed he drove to the school and accosted the girl because he had received a phone call from his 17-year-old daughter, Khuon Thavy, claiming she had been beaten by Chanthida and her friends.

“The reason why I slapped her [Chanthida’s] face was because I got angry with her for beating my daughter,” and because she hadn’t respected him as her elder, he said.

Khoun, who was also fined 2 million riel (about $500), told the court he regretted his actions.

“I was very sorry for my mistakes,” he said. “I promise that I will never do such a stupid thing again.”