A teacher from the secondary LAB school in Puurs-Sint-Amands in Antwerp has been arrested after possible sexual misconduct. The council chamber extended his detention on Tuesday for a month.
At the LAB school, a secondary school in Puurs-Sint-Amands, a judicial investigation has been started into a teacher after a complaint about sexual misconduct. It is probably a complaint from a former student. The man was immediately suspended preventively by the school.
The school was contacted by the police on Friday evening because a colleague had been arrested. On Saturday she received confirmation that a judicial investigation into the man has been opened, director Kristien Bruggeman confirms. “We convened the team on Saturday to inform everyone and communicated to parents and students on Monday evening. The two-day wait happened at the request of the police – so as not to hinder the investigation.”
The male teacher is suspected of possible sexual offences, the East Flanders public prosecutor’s office confirms. The investigation is being conducted by the police in the Buggenhout-Lebbeke zone, because the suspect lives there. He was arrested by the investigating judge and his detention was extended by a month by the council chamber on Tuesday. The exact facts and whether it concerns one or more victims are still part of the investigation.
Stories were already circulating in the school, Bruggeman confirms. “We heard rumors at the end of last school year. We then called the police ourselves to ask if we could file a complaint, but were told that as a school we were not victims. The education administration asked whether we could suspend him, but that also turned out to be impossible. Ultimately, we imposed a disciplinary measure and drew up a guidance plan. That is all we could and were allowed to do.”
The school reacts very shocked. “We have been affected by everything we stand for,” says Bruggeman. “This is misery for everyone.” Parents and students have received an email with contact details for the school, the CLB and the police, if they have any questions. Information rounds will be organized in the coming days. (km)
