The copy of the report of the complaint of the first girl who had told of the harassment suffered by her professor of history and philosophy remained for months in the safe of the office of the head teacher Silvana Romeo who, arrived a few months earlier in that school, uncovered a story who could now bring a 64-year-old professor from Gallitae to trial, on charges of sexual assault against five former students of the institute. “A girl confided in me telling me what had happened and I turned to the police that same day because it was not a matter that needed to be clarified and on which you could waste time”, says the manager. Now the prosecutor has asked for the indictment of the teacher who has no longer taught at the school since 9 December.
Novara, the model professor abused his students. Investigated and suspended for a year
by Carlotta Rocci
With a court order he was banned from the profession for a year, shortly after that measure was also suspended by the regional school office. “The provision was notified that morning and was immediately enforceable so that the professor did not show up at school that day and I have never heard from him since then”, says the director. For the months the investigation was ongoing, though, it was a bit like walking on eggs. The Novara high school had to continue its school activities without disturbing the serenity of the students who had not been involved in the affair.
The manager was the only one to know of the existence of that report that denounced inappropriate behavior by the professor and over time other accusations emerged which – if the affair comes to trial – will have to be discussed in the courtroom. “Absolute secrecy was necessary to allow the investigations – he says – the teacher was at school but certainly under surveillance until the suspension measure arrived”. Distance learning and new rules to avoid crowds among students had helped the school to prevent other meetings.
The professor is accused of sexual violence with the aggravating circumstance of having abused his role as an educator.
The man is accused of having approached the girls, one still a minor, the others just of age, with the excuse of helping them prepare for their high school diploma. One of the girls accuses him of luring her into one of the school’s less frequented classrooms with that excuse and kissing and groping her. Sometimes – the investigators of the Vercelli mobile squad directed by Valeria Dulbecco have reconstructed – the professor would also meet his students at home. They all found the courage to talk after finishing high school, sure they didn’t have to have anything to do with the teacher anymore.
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