School janitor arrested for sexually abusing 50 girls in Turkey’s southeast

MARDİN

A school janitor in the Derik district of the southeastern province of Mardin has been arrested over claims of sexually abusing 50 girls aged between eight and 12, Doğan News agency has reported.

The incident unfolded after one of the victims told her family that she was sexually abused by the janitor, 43, identified only by the initials M.Ş.Y., in her school. 

After the girl’s family informed the Göktaş Primary School’s administration, the school’s counselor started interviewing other students in the school. The counselor identified that at least 50 girls aged between eight and 12 had been sexually abused by the janitor. 

An investigation was opened into the suspect upon the Derik Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office order. Some 50 girls gave testimonies in the presence of a pedagogue, saying they were abused at different times by the suspect.

The suspect was arrested by court on March 22 after being detained. Officials stated that the investigation was ongoing.

Previously, the principal of a high school in Ankara, who sexually abused over 100 students, was arrested following the order of the Prosecutor’s Office on Feb. 18. The suspect was arrested by court after giving testimony and was sent to Sincan Prison in Ankara. 

Around 100 high school students in the Haymana district had applied to authorities with complaints that they were sexually abused by the principal of their school on Feb. 12.