Prosecutor detains school staff over student burning incident by peers

AMMAN — The Amman Prosecutor on Friday ordered the detention of three staff members at Khalid Bin Waleed Government School in Rusiefeh in connection with the case of the alleged burning of a student by two of his peers last week.

Mohammad Humaidi was allegedly set on fire by two students who poured a flammable substance on his stomach and chest on February 24.

The three who were ordered detained for seven days pending further investigations into the incident included the principal, the assistant principal and an employee, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, said.

The prosecutor charged the three with negligence in the performance of duties, negligence of the care of a minor and causing harm, Petra said.

The two minors were also ordered detained at a juvenile detention centre, according to Petra.  

Humaidi, 11, survived the incident and was listed in fair condition.

He appeared in a video clip on social media describing the alleged incident.

In a video clip that circulated on social media, a boy named Mohammed spoke from a hospital bed of the alleged incident saying he was “attacked by two of his schoolmates who poured kerosene over his body and set him ablaze”.

A woman claiming to be his mother also appeared in the video claiming that two students attacked her son and called on the concerned authorities “to bring justice to my son”.

On Wednesday, HRH Crown Prince Hussein made a phone call with Minister of Education Azmi Mahafzah to inquire about the case of student Humaidi, who is recovering from burns he sustained inside one of the public schools. 

During the call, His Royal Highness expressed his confidence in the fair and impartial judiciary, which is handling the case, Petra, reported. 

The Crown Prince also directed that the ministry take the necessary measures to ensure that such incidents do not occur again and to provide a safe educational environment for students, Petra said. 

He also emphasised that he would continue to follow up on the measures the ministry will take to enhance public safety at schools.

In remarks to Petra on Wednesday, Mahafzah said that the incident of the student burned by his peers in one of the schools is "strange and reprehensible and it has never occurred in the history of our Jordanian schools."

The minister emphasised that the incident reflects negligence on the part of some school staff, as such dangerous materials should not be within the students' reach. "They must be stored in a safe place in closed rooms, and it is unacceptable for students to be in such a room."

"The ministry will not hesitate to take any decisions or impose penalties on those found guilty of negligence or failure to act, which led to this painful incident," he said.