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Published on September 25, 2007

Niphon Tosing was among four freshmen from the Bangkok college told by the seniors to roll over the embers of a bonfire covered with sand.

Besides serious burns, Niphon sustained a head injury that caused internal bleeding.

Parents of the victim urged the CSD yesterday to take charge of the case instead of local police and called on seniors, alumni and the school to take responsibility for what happened.

A CSD source said police investigators interviewed Dr Wijak Chakkraphan of Cholprathan Hospital, who treated Niphon, who has lapsed into a coma.

Police also interviewed Thammasat Rangsit Hospital doctors who treated another 17-year-old victim, Tawan Rujichai, and ordered teachers from Thai Wijitsilp to cooperate with the investigation.

Evidence would be gathered to see if warrants can be issued for the four senior students, identified only as Ae, Bung, Bo and Noom.

Niphon's parents, Somneuk and Boonsong Tosing, went to the CSD office yesterday morning. They asked officers to proceed with the case instead of referring it to Prachuap Khiri Khan police.

They said the family had been advised by friends to appeal to the Justice Ministry if police refused to pursue the case.

Boonsong said Niphon was still unconscious and she hoped he would stay alive even  if permanently disabled or remaining in a coma.

At 1pm yesterday, Tawan, accompanied by his mother Wannakorn Sakhamula, gave testimony to police in front of medical and psy?chiatric professionals, as required by law when a minor is interrogated.

Wannakorn urged the senior students to admit responsibility for what they had done to the four freshmen at the initiation rite.

Wannakorn said the college had denied responsibility but said it should take care of the injured students, especially Niphon, who remained in a serious condition. Niphon's parents should also be entitled to assistance.

She said she wanted to consult the Education Ministry about a new place for her son to study because she did not want him to attend Thai Wijitsilp College anymore.

The case came to attention after Niphon's parents filed a police complaint saying senior students had assaulted their son the previous weekend during the initiation ceremony at a resort in Prachuap Khiri Khan's Thap Sakae district.

The Nation