Disciplinary investigation launched against teacher suspected of two thousand child abuse crimes

The 50-year-old 1st cycle primary school teacher, arrested on Wednesday for allegedly committing at least two thousand crimes of sexual abuse of children, which occurred over the last seven years, was today in pre-trial detention, after being presented the first judicial interrogation at the Braga Court, during which he remained silent.

“The Group’s Management [escolar] initiated the necessary procedures with a view to the initiation of disciplinary proceedings and the preventive suspension of the teacher”, says the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation, in a written response sent to the Lusa agency.

The guardianship states that “the class of which the teacher is the head has been provided, since Wednesday, by the teacher who performs the role of coordinator of the establishment, given her connection with the students in question”.

The Ministry of Education adds that the social educator working in the school group “was highlighted to assist the teacher who is providing the class, in order to complement the support” for these students.

“The Group Management met with the guardians of the students in the class and with representatives of the Parents’ Association, and psychological support was provided, agreed with the local authority. The case has been handed over to the competent authorities”, it reads still in the guardianship response.

Also in a written response sent to Lusa today, the Chamber of Póvoa de Lanhoso states that, after becoming “aware of the arrest of a 1st Cycle teacher in Póvoa de Lanhoso, it immediately began close contacts with the parents’ association and the management of both School Groups in the municipality”.

“The municipality immediately made psychological support available, through the Parenting Support Office, for families and young people in need. The Póvoa de Lanhoso City Council will continue to closely monitor the entire situation”, says the municipality.

In a statement, released on Wednesday, the Judiciary Police (PJ) stated that the teacher is suspected “of committing at least two thousand crimes of sexual abuse of children from what has been possible to determine so far.” , most of them aggravated, and also, at least, of a crime of pornography of minors”.

“The investigative measures began after a complaint made by Escola Secundária da Póvoa de Lanhoso, related to reports from several students that they had been victims of sexual abuse by the suspect”, says the PJ.

A PJ source told Lusa on Wednesday that he was a teacher in the 1st cycle of basic education.

“The suspect had been carrying out the abuse, at least since the 2017/2018 school year until the present, in a classroom context and on students aged between 6 and 9 years old, at the basic school where he was working”, reads the statement.

Following searches carried out at the defendant’s work station, “some objects that may be related” to the commission of these crimes were located and seized, adds the Judiciary Police.

The same PJ source indicated that the teacher had already taught in schools in Porto, Vila Nova de Gaia, Barcelos and Amares.

“Therefore, the real extent of his criminal activity is still unknown”, the statement further highlights.