A 44-year-old man from Verviers was sentenced on Friday by the Liège criminal court to two years' imprisonment suspended on probation after committing acts of sexual molestation against 21 children.
The various cases of sexual assault took place between 2011 and 2020 at a school in the Liège province where the defendant taught maths. Some 21 children, including 19 girls, had reported the acts at different times.
The court accused the defendant of committing sexual offences and abusing his authority. The teacher regularly sexually assaulted his various pupils.
Several children had expressed their discomfort at their teacher's behaviour. One of the teacher's colleagues complained to the principal in 2004 about his behaviour. The first pupils complained in 2012. The school management issued instructions banning touching, but several years passed before the teacher was suspended.
The court sentenced him to a two-year suspended prison sentence on Friday.
