The former Deputy Principal of Aana Alofi No. 1 Secondary School, Ieti Paleaae, has been jailed for 10 months for assaulting two students, in years 9 and 10.
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The first victim was a 14-year-old male, Tutoatasi Gasologa, and the second victim was a 15-year-old female, Lina Fereti.
“Let this be a lesson to all other teachers who continue to assault the students,” Justice Mata Keli Tuatagaloa said, in delivering her decision to the 50-yearold accused, from Saoluafata.
“Teachers play an important role and they become role models to the students because they educate them to become future leaders.” According to the police summary of facts, the accused used a stick to assault the first victim, which left him with bruises and a broken arm.
It states that on 25 August, 2015, the victim was brought in by a teacher and reported for not submitting his assessment papers.
On 26 August, the second victim was found fighting in her classroom.
The accused then slapped her three times and her head hit the black board, which caused bruises on her head and swollen eyes.
He also hit her with a broken steel chair.
He only stopped when another teacher intervened, having been told about the attack by another student.
The victim was taken into the library by the Principal and told not to tell anyone what happened, and to claim they had accidentally hit the black board if asked.
The victim returned home and explained to her family what had happened, and the matter was reported to the police.
Justice Tuatagaloa told the accused what he did to both victims was humiliating and degrading.
There was a breach of trust between him, as the Deputy Principal and a teacher, and the students, as well as their parents, Justice Tuatagaloa said.
Justice Tuatagaloa pointed out that the Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture has a policy against teachers assaulting students.
In sentencing, Mr. Paleaae’s previous good character was taken into account, as he is 50 and was only now appearing in court.
His efforts to apologise to the families of his victims was also taken into account, as was his guilty plea to the charges against him.
However, the court found it unacceptable that a broken steel chair was used to hit one of the victims.
The continuous assault in front of a class was deemed humiliating and degrading too.
For the first victim, Tutoatasi Gasologa, the accused was sentenced to three months in prison.
For the second victim, Lina Fereti, the accused was sentenced to seven months in prison.
The penalties were required to be served consecutively, for a total of 10 months in prison.
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