China teacher ‘sexually assaulted pupils’

CHINA: Authorities in northwest China have ordered the arrest of an elementary school teacher who allegedly sexually assaulted eight girl pupils, the youngest aged 10, a state-backed newspaper said Tuesday.

Liu Junhong, 28, reportedly raped five girls and acted indecently towards another three over the past year at the school in Gansu province, the China Youth Daily said. The oldest victim was 13.

Seven of the girls were children of migrant workers who were employed far from their homes, the report said. “My mother is too far away,” one of the victims was quoted as saying.

Authorities have removed the head of Longxi county’s education bureau and punished three other officials for failing to take responsibility in the case, the report said.

It is unclear whether police had already arrested the teacher or whether they were still looking for him. Police in Longxi declined to comment when contacted by AFP. The local government and school were unavailable for comment.

The case highlights the vulnerability of so-called “left-behind children” whose parents leave them in the care of others as they seek employment far away.

AFP