By Chong Shin Yen

IT WAS a classroom prank that escalated into a violent brawl right outside a lecture theatre.

And due to a case of mistaken identity, 19-year-old student Paul Poh was beaten up so badly he needed three stitches above his eyebrow.

Now, Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP) has set up a disciplinary panel to look into the assault.

It took place after a lecture at its Ang Mo Kio campus in the afternoon of 22 Jan.

Paul, a second-year mechatronics engineering student, told The New Paper that he had attended a class with about 30 other students.

Halfway through the lecture, Paul saw 'something' flying over his head.

Said Paul: 'My friend, who was sitting directly behind me, had crushed a piece of paper into a ball. He then aimed it at one of our friends who was sitting three rows in front of me. He was playing the fool and had wanted to get the attention of that friend.'

He missed his target and the paper ended up hitting another student, who was seated four rows in front of Paul. It struck him on the back of the head.

'He immediately turned his head and saw me looking at him,' said Paul. 'He thought I was the one who had thrown that ball of paper at him and he uttered Hokkien vulgarities at me.'

Paul said he raised both his hands and told the student that he was not the one who did it.

'My friend, who threw the paper, also raised his hand and admitted that he was the culprit,' said Paul. 'He also said 'sorry' repeatedly but the student ignored us.'

Paul said neither he nor his friend knew the student who was hit, although they had seen him around on campus.

He said the lecturer was unaware of what had happened as the class was having a discussion and it was quite noisy.

Paul and his friend thought that was the end of the matter and they continued with their lesson. The lecture ended around 5pm.

Paul walked out of the lecture theatre alone and was surprised to find the student waiting for him outside.

'The moment he saw me, he asked me why I had thrown the paper at him,' said Paul. 'Before I could reply, he started punching me on my face.'

Paul said three of the attacker's friends joined in. They punched his head and scratched his face.

Paul's spectacles came off and dropped to the ground during the beating.

'I was cornered and was pushed against the wall, but I didn't retaliate,' he said. 'I stood there and tried to block their punches. I did not want to be accused of getting into a fight with them.'

Then a few of Paul's friends came out of the lecture theatre and when they saw what happened, they tried to intervene.

He claimed his friends were also punched while trying to stop the attack.

Said Paul: 'I felt blood trickling down my forehead. That was when they stopped hitting me and fled. I felt faint and took out my handphone to call the police.'

Paul's friends also helped him to call for an ambulance. He was taken to Tan Tock Seng Hospital, where he was given outpatient treatment.

Police investigation

The New Paper understands that the attackers returned to the scene to help with investigations after the police arrived.

A police spokesman confirmed that they are investigating the case.

Paul suffered bruises and scratches on his face and neck in addition to the wound above his left eyebrow.

A spokesman said the polytechnic is also looking into the matter and has spoken to the parties involved.

'NYP takes a stern view of such assault cases and do not condone such behaviour and breaches of discipline,' the spokesman said.

'A disciplinary panel has been set up to review the case and the necessary action will be taken.'

The spokesman added that school representatives had visited Paul and his parents and will provide them with assistance.

Paul said his friend who had thrown the ball of paper as a prank was very apologetic over what happened.

'He told me that he was just being playful and didn't expect it to turn violent,' said Paul. 'I told him that I don't blame him at all.'

This article was first published in The New Paper on February 02, 2009.