(Nassau Guardian) – A 64-year-old Guyanese teacher denied that he indecently assaulted a 16-year-old female student when he was arraigned in an Eleuthera magistrates’ court this week.
Superintendent Theophilus Cunningham, the officer in charge of Eleuthera, reported on Thursday that John Persaud appeared before Magistrate Stephen Wilson, the island’s local administrator, in Rock Sound, Eleuthera, on one count of indecent assault on Wednesday.
Persaud, who teaches at Preston H. Albury High School, is alleged to have assaulted the student last month, Cunningham said. The teacher, who lives in Tarpum Bay, Eleuthera, was granted $3,000 bail with one surety.
Cunningham said Persaud was ordered to surrender his travel documents.
Additionally, he has to report to the local police station every Monday and Friday until the trial date, which is scheduled for June 17. In the meantime, Persaud has reportedly been placed on administrative leave.
Over the past several months a number of teachers have been accused of assaulting students and have been placed on leave. Officers in Grand Bahama are currently investigating claims of sexual abuse at Jack Hayward High School.
The school sexual complaints unit looked into allegations that two teachers at the school stayed in the same hotel room with a female student during a three-day trip to New Providence in February.
The teachers allegedly attended the Hugh Campbell Basketball Tournament with the girl. It is alleged that one of them had sex with the girl. Another teacher allegedly attempted to have sex with the same girl, but she resisted his advances.
It is alleged that a second incident took place in Grand Bahama during a school lunch break. The two teachers in question allegedly took two female students off the school’s grounds without getting permission from the principal, according to a well-placed source. One of the students reportedly wanted Chinese food. The teachers allegedly bought beers as well as the food and took the girls to the home of one of the teachers.
