(Adds MUT, ministry statements)

The member of the Society of Christian Doctrine (MUSEUM), charged with defiling a 10-year-old boy, has been granted bail.

Anthony Callus was granted bail against a €500 deposit and a personal guarantee of €2,500. He has to sign at the Qormi police station once a week but no curfew was imposed.

Magistrate Audrey Demicoli, who handed down the bail ruling in her chambers, also ordered him to stay away from any places frequented by children who attend the MUSEUM. This condition was laid down after Mr Callus himself resigned from his role within the MUSEUM until the case against him is decided.

The boy testified yesterday in the case against Mr Callus, 46, of Siggiewi, who is also an assistant head of school. The case is being heard behind closed doors and Mr Callus is pleading not guilty.

Mr Callus is also charged with violent indecent assault, harassment and offending public morals.

The prosecution, led by Police Inspector Josric Mifsud, had said the incident allegedly happened during a swimming outing on August 24.

Mr Callus was allegedly lifting the boy out of the sea a number of times and then held him in such a way so that his private parts would rub against the boy from behind. Mr Callus is contesting the allegations.

Lawyers Arthur Azzopardi and Kathleen Grima are representing Mr Callus.

MUT expresses concern at handling of such cases, writes to PM

Meanwhile, the Malta Union of Teachers wrote to the Prime Minister expressing concern “at the way cases of alleged child abuse are being treated by the police force, especially where educators are concerned”.

In its letter the MUT noted that there appeared to be no uniform way of how such cases were dealt with.

“In some cases allegations that reach the police are investigated in a highly professional manner and action is taken if and when the police believe they have a case.

“In other cases it appears that once the allegation reaches the police no investigation is carried out at all and the person who allegedly abused is prosecuted immediately.

“Moreover it is highly confusing to see how some people have their names published on day one, while others do not. This gives rise to concern because it appears that there are two weights and two measures in the way people are treated by the same police force.”

Referring to the case of MUSEUM member Anthony Callus, who is also an assistant head of school and who is charged with defiling a 10-year-old boy, the MUT said it seemed the same inspector who is behind a case of another educator, a case which had been dragging for over three years in the Gozo courts, did not properly investigate the cases before prosecuting the accused.

“This methodology is ruining the lives of educators who are involved, who end up being suspended from their work and/or having to resign, after their personal and professional reputation is literally rubbished on a simple allegation.”

The MUT said the methodology apparently being applied by this inspector and/or the police force literally meant that all one needed to do to “get rid” of the educator who disciplined his/her son/daughter was turn up at the police station and allege abuse.

This, it said, was proving to be a death blow for many initiatives taken by educators within the context of extracurricular activities, and an even harder blow on non-governmental organisations that provided voluntary service to children.

Outings, live-ins, exchanges abroad and similar activities would most definitely be affected.

The union said it has been inundated with calls and emails from educators in various schools and volunteers in various organisations expressing their concern.

The MUT called on the Prime Minister to investigate and amend legislation for parties concerned to be protected from a system “which appears to be flawed and incongruent”.

It did not exclude issuing directives if the situation remained unchanged.

Teachers' concerns discussed

The teachers' concerns were this afternoon discussed in a meeting between union officials, the acting police commissioner, the Education Minister and other ministry officials.

All parties agreed children should be fully protected and the rights of all involved in the case safeguarded.

An agreement was reached for a meeting to be held in the coming days between union officials and the education, justice and home affairs ministers to see how such delicate matters could be addressed.

Sign up to our free newsletters

Get the best updates straight to your inbox:
Please select at least one mailing list.

You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By subscribing, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing.