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Danny Mok

Wynna Wong

Hong Kong police are investigating an allegation that a four-year-old boy was indecently assaulted at an international school in Stanley, with the institution saying its security footage showed “no evidence of any wrongdoing” on the day of the suspected incident.
A source said on Wednesday that the International Montessori School kindergarten pupil complained to his family that his buttocks were sore on April 17 after his mother picked him up from school.
His father, who suspected that the child had been indecently assaulted, took the boy to Gleneagles Hospital in Wong Chuk Hang for a medical examination and reported the matter to police.
The insider said the medical examination found redness around the boy’s buttocks.
A police spokesman said on Thursday that the case had been classified as “pending indecent assault”, with the Western district investigation team tasked with following up.
No arrests had been made so far, he added.
In a statement that same day, the International Montessori School said it had reviewed records and closed-circuit television footage after learning of the allegation.
“We can confirm that this video footage from that day shows no evidence of any wrongdoing and that there was no evidence of any periods when the child was left unaccounted for,” it said.
The school added that police had informed it that “at this stage, no evidence has yet come to light of an assault on school grounds”.
“And at this stage, there is no evidence to suggest risk to any other students at the school, or the involvement of any member of the school community in an alleged assault.”
The institution said it was continuing to fully cooperate with police investigations.
In an earlier letter sent to parents and seen by the South China Morning Post, school head Timothy Veale confirmed that police had approached the institution for help on April 20 in connection with an alleged incident.
He said the school had been fully cooperating with the investigation.
“To our understanding, whether the alleged incident did happen on school premises is yet to be determined by police,” he said.
Veale also said the school was instructed not to disclose further details at this stage to avoid hindering police inquiries.
“We are certain that the matter is now in the good hands of the police and pending the result of the police investigation, they have advised us that any rumours will be detrimental to the police’s investigation,” Veale added.
The school said the safety and welfare of students remained its highest priority.
It said that prospective employees underwent criminal record and reference checks, in addition to being required to complete child protection training.
The Education Bureau on Thursday said it was deeply concerned about the incident.
“The bureau immediately urged the school to seriously follow up on the incident, properly address parents’ concerns, and provide timely explanations,” a spokesman said.
“It will continue to maintain contact with the school, closely monitor the situation, continuously supervise the institution’s follow-up work and provide appropriate advice and assistance.”
The bureau stressed that it attached great importance to teachers’ professional ethics and the prevention of unsuitable individuals from entering the profession.


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Hong Kong

Law and Crime

International Montessori School says currently there is no evidence to suggest risk to other students or involvement of member of school community


International Montessori School says currently there is no evidence to suggest risk to other students or involvement of member of school community.


Hong Kong police

Sexual harassment and assault

Crime

Police investigate alleged indecent assault of boy, 4, at international school

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}International Montessori School says currently there is no evidence to suggest risk to other students or involvement of member of school community

International Montessori School says currently there is no evidence to suggest risk to other students or involvement of member of school community