A Year 11 student from a prominent school in Lautoka is left with two stitches, a swollen upper lip, swollen head and bruises on his left face after stopping a fight.

James Waqairawai, 16, after stopping a fight, was first attacked by one student and later by a group of male students while returning from the bathroom to clean up after the assault.

“I tried to block my face and was being punched from everywhere, and when I fell they kicked me and stomped on me,” he said.

James told Fiji Sun he had seen two students fist fighting at around 3.30pm at the school’s hockey ground. It is alleged the fight between the two students started because one was allegedly involved in stealing.

James said he managed to separate the two students but another student approached him and punched him on the mouth. After he was punched he went to the bathroom to wash up, but as he was making his way to see the teacher present, he was assaulted by a group of at least 12 students.

James said a Police officer, who was at the school at the time, managed to pull him out from the brawl, took him to the school’s administration office, but left him there.

James said he was not taken to hospital by the school staff or management but left to leave the school on his own with some of his relatives who attend the same school.

Walking home bleeding and bruised he was picked up half way by his mother, Noela Waqairawai, who then took him to hospital for treatment. She later lodged a report with Police.

Police spokesperson Ana Naisoro also confirmed the incident adding they have started their investigations concerning the matter.

Mrs Waqairawai said she was notified by a friend whose son attended the same school and had witnessed the incident.

“She said her son was still trembling from what had taken place,” Mrs Waqairawai said.

“I made my way to the school and saw James walking home, his shirt all bloodied from the assault.”

Mrs Waqarawai is still upset that the school made no attempts to take her son to the hospital and is demanding answers why they did not act immediately.

The school’s vice principal, Iliesa Williams, when approached by the Fiji Sun yesterday, said he could not make a comment about the incident.

Fiji Sun also learned that yesterday morning, the school principal had called Mrs Waqairawai and informed her that he would investigate the incident, despite not being at school at the time of the incident.

The Minister for Education, Mahendra Reddy, said he was not aware of the incident and would wait for a report before commenting.

A ministry official in Lautoka has confirmed receiving a report about the incident, but declined to comment further.

Edited by Naisa Koroi

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