A BAO’AN primary school student who refused to pay protection money had to undergo two surgeries for lacerations to the spleen after a June 10 attack, the Southern Metropolis Daily reported yesterday.

    “I was even given a notice by the hospital that my son was in critical condition,” said the father of the victim, surnamed Han.

    Han, a student at Dongsheng Experimental School in Songgang Subdistrict, had refused to pay a school dropout, identified as 15-year-old Jiang. Jiang wanted several hundred yuan as “protection money,” according to the news report.

    Han is now in stable condition in the hospital, said Han’s mother, who gave only her family name Zhao.

    Two of Han’s classmates followed Jiang’s instructions and brought Han behind the school where Jiang demanded money from Han on June 10. Initially, Han refused and Jiang attacked him.

    After the attack, Han’s classmates brought Han home to get the money Jiang demanded.

    Han paid Jiang several hundred yuan.

    “I thought they (Han’s classmates) were coming to play with my son,” said Han’s father. “I would never have thought that they came for a ‘protection fee.’”

    Han’s father said his son didn’t tell him about being beaten up until 10 days later when Han was overcome by stomach pain.

    Han was taken to Songgang People’s Hospital and was diagnosed with spleen damage, and his father was told he was in critical condition.

    “It wasn’t the first time he was beaten up by those older kids,” said Han’s father. “He later told me that he had been bullied at school before.”

    Han’s family has accused the school of avoiding responsibility after learning about the boy’s condition.

    “They didn’t come visit my son in the hospital, they didn’t even bother to call,” the father said.

    The school authority said it is waiting for the results of a police investigation before taking any action.

    The school confirmed that Jiang used to study in the school but dropped out at age 15.

    The school’s principal, Li Shengwu, first denied of widespread bullying at the school, saying that it had taken measures to stop the bullying when it was first reported that young student were bullied.

    But he later said he had no idea what the situation was before at the school. “I took up the position last August and as to my knowledge, Han’s case in an individual case,” said Li.

    The Dongfang Police Station has taken three suspects into custody. (Zhang Xiaoyi)