THAILAND - Three Rajamangala Uni-versity of Technology Krungthep students yesterday turned themselves in to police and admitted to burning a junior's back with spray-painted fire during a recent hazing.

Police said six other senior students, who took part in the initiation ceremony and allegedly burned the pubic hair of 31 other juniors and told them to dip their penises in chilli paste, would soon give themselves up.

The three students are Nopphorn Kerdsiri, Keerati Rerngarj and Ophas Thim-khrongtham. They have been charged with causing injuries through unintentional assault and were in police custody at press time.

Ophas said he felt sorry about the injuries inflicted on Suradej Suwannarat and said the burns were beyond the seniors' expectations.

He said he was given an insignia on his own back through branding when he was hazed by his seniors, which he said was a tradition in the university's faculty of industrial engineering.

Treatment

RUTK deputy rector Bunchern Dissamarn said the three students would face a suspension of one or two semesters and RUTK would pay for treatment for Suradej's injuries.

Suradej can also attend one of three other RUTK campuses at his request, due to his fear prompted by the incident.

Suradej's parents plan to pursue the matter.