A male kindergarten employee in his 30s was jailed for four weeks on Thursday with a letter and visiting ban in Hordaland district court. He has been charged with several cases of qualified sexual acts, which fall under the section on aggravated rape of children under 14 years of age. – In concrete terms, it is touching a naked genital organ, says police attorney Eli Andrea Skaar. He was arrested at the kindergarten where he works on Tuesday this week. Police prosecutor Eli Andrea Skaar asked for a four-week remand for the man in his 30s, who is employed in a kindergarten in Bergen. The man is accused of assaulting a child in the nursery school. Police are not ruling out more victims. Photo: Valentina Baisotti / news This is the fourth assault case in one year involving male employees in schools and kindergartens in Bergen municipality. – I get angry and sad about such cases, no child or student in Bergen should experience this in their daycare or school life. This is tough for everyone involved. At the same time, it is good that it is discovered, so that the abuse is stopped, says city councilor for kindergartens, schools and sports Linn Katrin Pilskog (Ap). See list further down in the case. Four cases in one year Head of agency for schools in Bergen, Frode Nilsen, confirms that three employees at schools in Bergen have been remanded in custody in the past year, charged with child abuse. He says that new cases like this cause unrest. – This applies to both children and adults, especially when it is so close to a year. What you have managed to process often comes up again. He talks about thousands of men in vulnerable positions in the municipality, who find the cases challenging. Head of agency for schools in Bergen, Frode Nilsen, says the abuse cases in the school have caused unrest. Photo: Astri Kamsvåg / Bergen municipality Takes measures The city council says that the agency for schools has started work on a competence-raising package in the prevention and detection of sexual abuse. – The first meeting is in November. There is also collaboration with NOK. Bergen. In addition, emergency plans, routines and guidelines have been reviewed and updated, says Pilskog. She adds that emergency plans, routines and guidelines for kindergartens have also been revised or are being revised. Hordaland district court in Bergen, where the four male employees have had to meet. Photo: Simon Skjelvik Brandseth / news Does not rule out more victims The latest case is from this week, and involves a male kindergarten employee in Bergen who is charged with aggravated rape of a child under 14 years of age. The police are planning more interviews with staff and children in the nursery. Among them, a possible new offended. – The police are in the planning phase of questioning someone who may possibly be offended, says police attorney Eli Andrea Skaar. Police prosecutor Eli Andrea Skaar outside the court in connection with the imprisonment of a kindergarten employee in his 30s this week. Photo: Valentina Baisotti / news The man was reported by the offended child’s parents. The child was questioned at the Orphanage in Bergen on Tuesday, a week after the report. – Suspicion against the man was strengthened after the questioning. He was then arrested, says Skaar. The accused pleads not guilty. The man’s defender, lawyer Ivar Abrahamsen, did not want to comment on the case after the prison meeting. He has also not answered news’s inquiries afterwards. Legal aid attorney Kjetil Ottesen writes in an SMS to news: – I hope the remand of the accused means that the police can investigate the case in peace, and that it will be illuminated as best as possible. – Very serious case Kindergarten director in Bergen municipality, Mimi Bjerkestrand, tells news that the case affects them strongly. – This is a very serious matter. It is sad and demanding. Bjerkestrand says that they are carrying out measures in the specific kindergarten. Among these are support equipment and strengthened staffing. – Our responsibility is to ensure that children, parents and staff are looked after.
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