Teachers are contacting their union to ask whether they should “risk” taking students on outings after an assistant principal was charged with sexually abusing a 10-year-old boy during a swimming trip.

The teachers have expressed concern that they might end up in court if a child claims he or she has been abused, Malta Union of Teachers’ president Kevin Bonello said.

“I’m sure police are investigating but to what extent I don’t know. It seems that they will immediately charge anyone against whom there is an allegation,” he said.

Last Thursday a 46-year-old man from Siggiewi – an assistant principal and treasurer of the Society of Christian Doctrine (MUSEUM) – was accused in court of sexually molesting a 10-year-old pupil.

A girl asked a school technician to fix her sandals and, when he refused, she threatened to accuse him of sexual abuse

Police said he was playfully lifting a boy out of the sea and held him tightly against his body, including the genital region, during a swimming trip where other teachers and students were present. Mr Callus denies the charges.

The MUT president stressed that while anyone found guilty of such offences should face the consequences and be listed on the child offenders’ register, one could not ignore the fact that allegations of abuse could be used maliciously by students or their parents to harm particular individuals.

During the past week, he said, a school principal informed him that a girl asked a school technician to fix her sandals and, when he refused, she threatened to accuse him of sexual abuse.

A year ago, a 69-year-old teacher was acquitted of sexually abusing a schoolgirl in 2006 after a court found she was trying to opt out of private lessons.

The case dragged on for six years and the MUT had appealed to the authorities to ensure justice was not delayed.

The MUT had also issued a directive so that none of its members remained alone with a child. It is still in force.

Mr Bonello said claims of abuse could be used to get a teacher out of the way immediately as they were usually suspended from work until the court case was concluded.

For this reason the police should investigate and speak to others present, when possible, before issuing charges, he said.

Mr Bonello added that even more worrying was that people were facing “trial by media”. There was lack of consistency with the courts banning identities in some cases, but not in others.

Questions sent to police, asking about investigations carried out before arraignments remained unanswered.

‘I’ve been punished during these three years of torture’

A teacher who was charged with defiling a student three years ago is urging authorities to investigate allegations thoroughly before taking such cases to court.

The teacher, in her 30s, also insists the process must be speeded up.

“I’m always depressed and crying. I had a job I loved and now I have nothing,” she said, adding she had to leave the profession.

“At first I used to dread waking up. In the morning my first thoughts were that I had to face another day,” the woman said, adding she would not be alive without the support of her friends and family. “It is irrelevant what the court’s decision will be… I’ve been punished during these three years of torture. I feel mentally imprisoned even though I’m not physically locked up,” she said.

She denies the charges.