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.
