“Despite our best efforts of selection, screening, training and collective commitment to our mission, there may be a handful of black sheep,” Ms Liew said.
“Disciplinary action will be taken if there is wrongdoing and a police report made if any criminal offence is revealed,” she added. “They might dismiss children's disclosures as the child being confused, attention-seeking or misbehaving, especially as the children themselves might not clearly communicate exactly what has happened to them.
Ms Jumabhoy pointed to one case reported to SACC last year where a primary school teacher holding a senior position in the school had molested several of his students for about a year. One student eventually reported it to a trusted teacher, but was concerned about how it would impact the perpetrator’s family.
“The perpetrator is in a position of trust. He intentionally builds up an image of being an upstanding member of the community, which facilitates the process of sexual grooming and subsequent perpetration of abuse,” Ms Jumabhoy stated.