BEIRUT:
A school in Aintoura, Mount Lebanon, fired Monday the teacher accused of
sexually assaulting and harassing students in his care, and Social Affairs
Minister Wael Abu Faour promised a full and transparent investigation of the
case.
“We
decided to expel the teacher even before an investigation was launched,” said
St. Joseph College's principal Father Antoine Nakad during a news conference
Monday afternoon.
Earlier
in the day, the incident was tackled in a meeting attended by the Ministers of
Education, Social Affairs, and Justice.
Social
Affairs Minister Wael Abu Faour said, “The case will be followed up by the
judiciary ... we agreed on establishing a committee which brings together the
ministries of Education, Social Affairs, and Justice.”
Abu
Faour added that, “The committee will draft recommendations in an effort to
produce a plan of action which will be announced next Monday,” and vowed that
concrete results would be reached.
Both
Justice Minister Shakib Qortbawi and Education Minister Hassan Diab highlighted
the need to organize awareness campaigns regarding the threat posed by sexual predators.
The ministers said that the campaigns should be conducted collectively by
families, schools and public administrations.
Judicial
sources told the Daily Star that the teacher’s name is Pierre Shalash and that
he is 22 years old.
Sources
added that as soon as Shalash leaves the hospital, where he is being treated
for injuries sustained in a car accident he had Saturday, the Office for
Preserving Public Order and Conduct would investigate him.
In
the meantime, the families of the schoolgirls filed a lawsuit against the
teacher. The Social Affairs minister filed a similar lawsuit Saturday.
In
addition to expelling Shalash, St. Joseph's Father Nakad announced that the
institution would file a lawsuit against him and ask psychiatrists to provide
counseling to his alleged victims.
The
Association of Teachers in Private Schools issued a statement Monday addressing
the incident and expressing confidence in the work of the judiciary.
“We trust the judiciary, so
we ask the various media outlets to wait for the results of the investigation.
If the teacher is convicted, we will call for very tough punishment,” said head
of the association Nehme Mahfoud.
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Local-News/2012/Jun-04/175647-abu-faour-vows-full-investigation-of-teacher-accused-of-sexual-assault.ashx#axzz1wvMEwjSZ
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