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Options were limited, says teacher who failed to act on abuse allegations Options were limited, says teacher who failed to act on abuse allegations
(35 minutes later)
A former senior official at an exclusive independent school in Perth says he had limited options when staff raised concerns about a teacher's suspicious behaviour towards young boys.A former senior official at an exclusive independent school in Perth says he had limited options when staff raised concerns about a teacher's suspicious behaviour towards young boys.
The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse is hearing how staff and officials at the school, which cannot be named for legal reasons, responded to allegations against the teacher, known as YJ. The royal commission into institutional responses to child sexual abuse is hearing how staff and officials at the school, which cannot be named for legal reasons, responded to allegations against the teacher, known as YJ.
At the end of 2001, a teacher known as WF sent a letter to YK, then head of the institution's primary school, detailing concerns about YJ, including his touching boys on the stomach and thigh.At the end of 2001, a teacher known as WF sent a letter to YK, then head of the institution's primary school, detailing concerns about YJ, including his touching boys on the stomach and thigh.
"As WF did not want to be identified, insisted on remaining anonymous despite the contents of her letter [and] had not made any formal complaint about YJ, I felt I could not act upon the information or take any concrete steps against YJ," YK said on Wednesday."As WF did not want to be identified, insisted on remaining anonymous despite the contents of her letter [and] had not made any formal complaint about YJ, I felt I could not act upon the information or take any concrete steps against YJ," YK said on Wednesday.
"Nowhere in the letter was there any allegation of actual sexual abuse.""Nowhere in the letter was there any allegation of actual sexual abuse."
The commission has established that teachers at the school had raised concerns about YJ as far back as 1999 and until 2004.The commission has established that teachers at the school had raised concerns about YJ as far back as 1999 and until 2004.
When a former student raised sexual abuse allegations against YJ in September 2009, the teacher was dismissed.When a former student raised sexual abuse allegations against YJ in September 2009, the teacher was dismissed.
YJ was arrested that year on multiple charges of indecent dealing with a child and eventually sentenced to five years in prison.YJ was arrested that year on multiple charges of indecent dealing with a child and eventually sentenced to five years in prison.
After a successful appeal, he was again convicted after a retrial in 2012.After a successful appeal, he was again convicted after a retrial in 2012.
Becoming emotional in the stand, YK said he would act differently if presented with WF's letter now.Becoming emotional in the stand, YK said he would act differently if presented with WF's letter now.
"I deeply regret that I did not follow up and conduct further investigations or communicate that letter to the headmaster of the school at the relevant time," YK said."I deeply regret that I did not follow up and conduct further investigations or communicate that letter to the headmaster of the school at the relevant time," YK said.
"I made an error of judgment, I live with that on a daily basis."I made an error of judgment, I live with that on a daily basis.
"I sincerely and genuinely regret the pain and suffering that the victims have experienced as a result of the misconduct of YJ. I sincerely and deeply apologise.""I sincerely and genuinely regret the pain and suffering that the victims have experienced as a result of the misconduct of YJ. I sincerely and deeply apologise."
The hearings continue.The hearings continue.