At least three boys at a denominational school in San Fernando had to be screened for HIV last month after they were buggered by a martial arts instructor. Cpl Cedeno-Figaro of the Mon Repos Station arrested a 50-year-old Cocoyea man at his home on Sunday, shortly after a 14-year-old victim took police to a lonely area on San Fernando Hill where he was raped under the pretence of being trained. The alleged incidents also happened at the instructor’s home, where he would take them to read and chant from spiritual books.
A source told the T&T Guardian yesterday: “Apparently he had them reading bad books and would take them to a room at his home where he would blow smoke in their faces while chanting stuff. He told them that it was part of their spiritual growth.” Police have already received statements from the boys and school officials and were awaiting legal advice yesterday before laying charges. They said the rapes started in May but were only reported last month when one of the boys confided in a friend who then reported the incident to the school principal.
Another victim said his 19-year-old friend said the man had done the same thing to him. The T&T Guardian was told school officials wanted the matter to be dealt with quietly because it “was a good school.”
Speaking by telephone yesterday, a school official denied any teacher at his school was involved in a police investigation but confirmed police were investigating a matter which involved students at the school. Another official told police a teacher had recommended the suspect to train students because he was a martial arts experts who taught at other schools. Several years ago, the instructor was arrested while teaching karate at a gym in Freeport for the same offence. Back then, he trained students from another secondary school in San Fernando, where it was alleged he would massage them until their muscles were weak and then rape them. The matter was dismissed when it reached the magistrates court because the victims did not attend the hearings.