PENAMPANG: The case of a 10-year-old pupil allegedly bitten on the hand by a teacher was settled according to the custom of Kadazandusun folks here.
In a ceremony, the teacher paid ‘sogit’ (customary fine) in the form of a rooster to the child at the school here around 1pm.
Kampung Kituao village head, who declined to be named, witnessed and proclaimed that both parties had reconciled according to the ethnic ritual.
“At the customary level, it is a norm for ‘sogit’ practice (for this kind of situation) as the child is from this village.
“Usually for small or accidental cases, the fine will involve chicken,” he said, adding the case was settled at the village level, He could not comment on other investigations.
The parents had last week lodged police report upon finding bruises on the boy’s right hand.
The son had said the Mathematics teacher had bitten him last Friday when he was passing his answer sheet.
It was also learned that the boy had met a doctor for the injuries but was not emotionally affected as he had attended school as usual with his younger brother after the incident.
Also present during the ritual were the district education officer Mojuntin Ebin, the school headmaster, teachers and other pupils.
After the ceremony, the teacher involved was seen to be mingling well with other students.