ST Sep 5, 2006
Girl, 12, claims teacher touched her shoulders, tummy and
legs
By Jane Ng
A 12-YEAR-OLD girl has complained about having been touched on her
head, shoulders, abdomen and legs by a male teacher in her school's
computer lab.
The pupil, who is in Primary 5 in a school in the east, said she
was called out of the classroom three weeks ago by her form teacher
during the Chinese period, as she is exempt from the class.
The teacher, who is single and in his late 20s, led her and another
male pupil to the laboratory and said they were to do their work
there.
He then allegedly came from behind and touched her head and
shoulders.
The girl, who said the touch made her uncomfortable, told the
teacher she had a stomach ache and asked to go to the toilet.
When she returned, the teacher again allegedly came from behind
her, put his arms around her abdomen and asked if her tummy was
better.
She claimed he then put her legs on his lap and said he wanted to
examine a bruise. He then allegedly stroked her calf and thigh. She
said the other pupil had his back towards them and was unaware of
the incident.
Her stepfather, a 34-year-old Singapore regional director of a
multinational company, said the girl did not mention the incident,
but only said she did not want to be left alone with the
teacher.
But she awoke later that night and told her mother, a 31-year-old
businesswoman, that she did not want to go to school any
more.
Questioned by her parents, she said without elaborating that her
teacher had touched her body. She was taken to a child
psychiatrist, who said she was 'traumatised' and unlikely to be
lying.
The school principal lodged a police report a few days later
because of 'differing reports from teacher and child' and is now
'monitoring the teacher closely'.
The principal said: 'We talk to him every day and have reminded him
to take all the precautions necessary. For instance, he is not to
be alone with a pupil.'
The police have confirmed a report was made on Aug 19 but said
investigations are still going on.
The teacher was suspended from school for 'a few days' but has
since resumed most of his normal duties.
The girl has not gone to school for two weeks and will transfer to
another school in the east, with her nine-year-old sister.
Her father said he would be less inclined to believe his daughter
if this were a teacher she hated.
'But she likes and respects him, and has mentioned before that he
takes time to help her in English and mathematics,' he said.
The couple also have nine-month-old twin daughters.
