/ 8 August 2008

Teacher held over extortion of 10-year-old

A 33-year-old Johannesburg schoolteacher was arrested at a primary school in Marlboro on Friday for allegedly extorting money from a grade-four pupil, police said.

Police spokesperson Inspector Moses Maphakela said the teacher allegedly extorted money and threatened to rape a 10-year-old girl if she did not give him money.

”The teacher was arrested at 11am and is here [in Bramley] behind bars,” said Maphakela.

Earlier this year the teacher allegedly saw the girl drop a R100 note at school, called her aside and told her that he also need money.

He allegedly threatened to rape her if she refused to give him money.

In June the girl then allegedly stole R3 200 from her grandparents’ burial scheme savings to give to the teacher. The case came to light when the grandmother counted the savings last week and questioned the girl about the missing sum.

The teacher is expected to appear in the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court on Monday to face charges of extortion and intimidation. — Sapa