Latest news with #minor
The Herald
2 days ago
- The Herald
Teacher who had inappropriate relationship with 15-year-old pupil triggering HIV scare loses bid to keep job
The teacher sought to have the ELRC hearing postponed as her lawyer was busy with other matters. However, the arbitrator dismissed the application for several reasons. The arbitrator also considered the alleged victim's predicament. 'The records show the same/similar application was made before as submitted by the employer rep. After a lengthy process of a default award and a rescission application we are apparently back to square one. That, in my view, defeats the purpose of expeditious resolution of labour disputes. I also considered expeditious resolution should be balanced with fairness,' the ruling reads. 'The victim in the circumstances of the inquiry is a minor child who is expected from time to time to come and testify. This is taking much of his school time. I am of the opinion his constitutional right to education is being infringed. While it is expected of him to put much focus on his school work and future, further postponements on the matter is a damning distraction that cannot be taken lightly. 'In light of the foregoing, I am not persuaded the employee made a case for postponement and I am of the view it is not in the interest of justice to grant the application.' A police warrant officer from the family, child protection and sexual offences unit told the arbitrator police were investigating a statutory rape case against the teacher. The pupil, now 17, testified he was 'in a romantic relationship'. 'He confirmed he had a crush on her,' the ruling reads. 'He went to [the teacher's] place of residence several times. He confirmed having had sexual intercourse that night with her and without a condom. She gave him money to buy the morning after pills. It was his testimony that he had a romantic sexual relationship with [the teacher] and had sex more than once.' The pupil also testified the relationship was characterised by jealousy and violence. 'He confirmed he slapped [the teacher] on the face because of jealousy that she was speaking to another man over the phone in his presence,' the ruling reads. The pupil testified the teacher was upset when she saw his ex-girlfriend on his Facebook page. 'He confirmed he was chatting on WhatsApp with her regularly. He referred to her on WhatsApp as 'baby' and she responded positively. He told her he was in love with her and she was his 'baby' and she did not have a problem with that,' the ruling reads. 'He further stated he did not want to see her in any trouble regarding their affair and wanted to protect her.' He also pointed out the school hostel where the teacher lived. 'He could see the bedroom and the bed they slept on when they had sexual intercourse,' the ruling reads. The pupil revealed the relationship to another teacher who advised him to tell his parents. 'While they held the conversation, [the teacher] recorded everything said on his daughter's phone. He stated the pupil further confessed to have had sexual intercourse with the teacher. He felt duty-bound as an educator to protect the minor child. He advised him to tell his parents about the affair but he was reluctant to do that,' the ruling reads. The now-retired teacher testified he visited the child's parents and found his mother in 'tears' after the pupil confessed. The parents wanted to move their son to another school, the arbitrator heard. A social worker found the 'relationship affected the learner emotionally'.
CNN
6 days ago
- CNN
Baseball player Wander Franco found guilty in sexual abuse case, imposed two-year suspended sentence
A court in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, found baseball player Wander Franco — of the Tampa Bay Rays — guilty of abuse and sexual exploitation of a minor and imposed a two-year prison sentence, though the sanction was suspended with the restriction that he not approach minors. 'As a condition, for the moment, we will only indicate to Wander, as the regulation states, when the penalty is suspended, conditions must be imposed: that he not approach minors for sexual purposes,' said Judge Jakaira Veras García, of the Collegiate Court of the Judicial District of Puerto Plata, alongside her colleagues Venecia Rojas and José Juan Jiménez, during the sentencing hearing. According to the reasoning of the sentence as read by Judge Veras García, Franco was subject to blackmail and coercion by the minor's mother to obtain money from the baseball player. Franco's defense requested acquittal from the charges from the beginning of the trial. In addition, the minor's mother was also sentenced to 10 years in prison for the crime of sexual exploitation of minors. Both Franco and the minor's mother were fined the equivalent of approximately US $3,650 and US $11,050, respectively. Both had separately denied the charges against them. Related the mother's sentence, according to the prosecutor's indictment, she was also accused of sexual exploitation of the minor, money laundering and enrichment through acts of illicit origin, receiving a more severe sentence. Upon leaving the trial, Franco's lawyer said they would wait to read the written judgment and would appeal the ruling, without giving more details. After hearing the sentence, the baseball player burst into tears inside the courtroom and declined to comment to the press. Luis Martinez, Dominican General Attorney's officer, refused to comment in regard to Franco's sentence. CNN is seeking comment from the prosecutor's office regarding the sentence imposed on Franco, since they had sought a five-year prison sentence. Major League Baseball told CNN it is aware of Franco's verdict and will complete its investigation at an 'appropriate time,' without providing further details. 'Major League Baseball is proud to have a collectively bargained Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy that reflects our commitment to these issues,' the league added. Franco has not played with the team since the accusations came to light. At that time, MLB placed him on administrative leave, while the team declined to make public statements. The case has garnered national and international attention since August 2023, when Dominican media revealed that Franco was being investigated for allegedly having a relationship with a minor.
CNN
6 days ago
- CNN
Baseball player Wander Franco found guilty in sexual abuse case, imposed two-year suspended sentence
A court in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, found baseball player Wander Franco — of the Tampa Bay Rays — guilty of abuse and sexual exploitation of a minor and imposed a two-year prison sentence, though the sanction was suspended with the restriction that he not approach minors. 'As a condition, for the moment, we will only indicate to Wander, as the regulation states, when the penalty is suspended, conditions must be imposed: that he not approach minors for sexual purposes,' said Judge Jakaira Veras García, of the Collegiate Court of the Judicial District of Puerto Plata, alongside her colleagues Venecia Rojas and José Juan Jiménez, during the sentencing hearing. According to the reasoning of the sentence as read by Judge Veras García, Franco was subject to blackmail and coercion by the minor's mother to obtain money from the baseball player. Franco's defense requested acquittal from the charges from the beginning of the trial. In addition, the minor's mother was also sentenced to 10 years in prison for the crime of sexual exploitation of minors. Both Franco and the minor's mother were fined the equivalent of approximately US $3,650 and US $11,050, respectively. Both had separately denied the charges against them. Related the mother's sentence, according to the prosecutor's indictment, she was also accused of sexual exploitation of the minor, money laundering and enrichment through acts of illicit origin, receiving a more severe sentence. Upon leaving the trial, Franco's lawyer said they would wait to read the written judgment and would appeal the ruling, without giving more details. After hearing the sentence, the baseball player burst into tears inside the courtroom and declined to comment to the press. Luis Martinez, Dominican General Attorney's officer, refused to comment in regard to Franco's sentence. CNN is seeking comment from the prosecutor's office regarding the sentence imposed on Franco, since they had sought a five-year prison sentence. Major League Baseball told CNN it is aware of Franco's verdict and will complete its investigation at an 'appropriate time,' without providing further details. 'Major League Baseball is proud to have a collectively bargained Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy that reflects our commitment to these issues,' the league added. Franco has not played with the team since the accusations came to light. At that time, MLB placed him on administrative leave, while the team declined to make public statements. The case has garnered national and international attention since August 2023, when Dominican media revealed that Franco was being investigated for allegedly having a relationship with a minor.
Fox News
6 days ago
- Sport
- Fox News
Rays' Wander Franco found guilty in child sex abuse case
Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco was found guilty of sexual abuse of a minor in the Dominican Republic on Thursday and received a two-year suspended prison sentence. Franco, now 24, was arrested last year after being accused of having a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old when he was 21 years old. He also faced charges of sexual and commercial exploitation against a minor, and human trafficking. Franco last played in Major League Baseball in August 2023 before he was placed on administrative leave after the allegations involving his relationship with the underage girl surfaced. Franco played parts of three seasons with the Rays, and was named an All-Star in the 2023 season. This is a breaking news story, please check back for updates.
The Independent
6 days ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Tampa Bay Rays' Wander Franco found guilty in sex abuse case, receives 2-year suspended sentence
Wander Franco, the suspended Tampa Bay Rays shortstop facing sexual abuse charges, was found guilty on Thursday but received a two-year suspended sentence. Franco was arrested last year after being accused of having a four-month relationship with a girl who was 14 at the time, and of transferring thousands of dollars to her mother to consent to the illegal relationship. Franco, now 24, also faced charges of sexual and commercial exploitation against a minor, and human trafficking. Prosecutors had requested a five-year prison sentence against Franco and a 10-year sentence against the girl's mother, who was found guilty and would serve the full sentence. Before the three judges issued their unanimous ruling, the main judge orally reviewed the copious amount of evidence that prosecutors presented during trial, including testimony from 31 witnesses. 'This is a somewhat complex process,' said Judge Jakayra Veras García. More than an hour into her presentation, Veras said: 'The court has understood that this minor was manipulated.' As the judge continued her review, Franco looked ahead expressionless, leaning forward at times. Franco, who was once the team's star shortstop, had signed a $182 million, 11-year contract through 2032 in November 2021 but saw his career abruptly halted in August 2023 after authorities in the Dominican Republic announced they were investigating him for an alleged relationship with a minor. Franco was 22 at the time. In January 2024, authorities arrested Franco in the Dominican Republic. Six months later, Tampa Bay placed him on the restricted list, which cut off the pay he had been receiving while on administrative leave. He was placed on that list because he has not been able to report to the team and would need a new U.S. visa to do so. While Franco awaited trial on conditional release, he was arrested again in November last year following what Dominican authorities called an altercation over a woman's attention. He was charged with illegally carrying a semiautomatic Glock 19 that police said was registered to his uncle. That case is still pending in court.
