Teacher probed for throwing mug, deforming student's face

Teacher probed for throwing mug, deforming student's face

Students of Chokchaisamakkee School re-enact the situation when their classmate was hit by the teacher's thrown mug at the school on Wednesday. (Photo by Prasit Tangprasert)
Students of Chokchaisamakkee School re-enact the situation when their classmate was hit by the teacher's thrown mug at the school on Wednesday. (Photo by Prasit Tangprasert)

Education and justice officials are investigating the case in which a 58-year-old teacher threw a mug which allegedly hit a teenage student in the head, causing an injury which led to a facial deformity.

Chukiat Wisetsena, director of the Secondary Educational Service Area Office 31, said on Wednesday that he formed a committee to launch a disciplinary investigation into the case, headed by Samak Waikhunthod, director of Sura Nari Withaya School.

The probe would focus on Paithoon Klaengkrathok, the 58-year-old physical education teacher of Chokchaisamakkee School in Nakhon Ratchasima's Chok Chai district.

The teacher was later on Wednesday transferred to Boonwattana School in Muang Nakhon Ratchasima district pending the disciplinary investigation.

The probe started on Wednesday and would be concluded in seven days, Mr Chukiat said. In the meantime, provincial justice chief Pichianpatana Intarapanich is supervising the case to ensure fairness.

Naruedee Jodsanthia, the upper secondary school student, and her mother said on Tuesday that on Aug 8, Mr Paitoon had thrown a mug at Naruedee for disobeying his order.

Ms Naruedee wrote in social media that around 9am on that day Mr Paitoon told his students to sit outside a classroom while he went away to make draw tickets.

After sitting for a while, Naruedee and 6-7 students stood up because the sunlight was so strong at their spot. Seeing that, the teacher threw a mug in which he put the draw tickets without specifically aiming at anyone, and scolded them in rude language, she wrote. 

Ms Naruedee said the mug hit her on the left eyebrow, inflicting a nerve injury that later caused her mouth to twist to the right and not close properly. As local hospitals were unable to treat her, the family sought treatment in Bangkok.

At Chokchaisamakkee School, groups of students were discussing the issue while Mr Paitoon worked normally on Wednesday.

Classmates of Miss Naruedee said the teacher was preparing draws in a store room to form takraw teams among his students but he came out and threw a plastic mug at a glass pane near the young to stop them from chatting noisily.

Miss Naruedee was hit by the ricocheting mug while using her mobile phone. No one expected an injury at that time and the students continued with their class, the students said.

They also said that the teacher was normally friendly outside classes but was serious when teaching.

The teacher earlier admitted to throwing the mug but claimed it first hit a wall, bounced off and then hit Ms Naruedee's left ear.

Mr Paithoon did not speak to reporters after the interrogation on Wednesday. School director Niphon Phakdeekaew said the teacher was stressed and not ready to give an interview.

Police of the Chok Chai station on Wednesday charged the teacher with physical assault causing injury.

Pavena Foundation for Children and Women took Miss Naruedee for treatment at a private hospital in Bangkok. Earlier, the family went to state-run Ramathibodi Hospital where the treatment cost was estimated at 300,000 baht.

The photos of Naruedee Jodsanthia, 17, before and after being hit by a mug thrown by her teacher. (Photo by Pongpat Wongyala)

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