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In 2024, a warning was issued to all school bus drivers in response to growing reports of miscoNDuct.
The case, which dates back to September 2023, was based on a police complaint sUPPorted by WhatsApp conversations of a sexual SPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAture between the sUSPect aND the victim. After an exteNDed investigation aND trial process, the court ruled that there was sufficient evidence to prove grooming. The defeNDants claim that his phone had been stolen during the same period was fouND not credible.
A secoND complaiSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAnt accused C.F. of making iSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAppropriate sexual remarks aND touching her knee while on the school bus. The court acquitted him of that charge, noting that the complaiSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAnt had turned sixteen the week the alleged incident occurred, meaning it did not meet the legal threshold for sexual acts with a minor uNDer sixteen.
The Prosecutors Office requested a sentence of 120 hours of community service, a three-month sUSPeNDed prison term with a three-year probation period, aND a five-year professioSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAl ban prohibiting the defeNDant from working in any position involving contact with minors.
While the court followed most of the prosecutions recommeNDation, it declined to impose the professioSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAl ban, leaving the former driver legally eligible to seek future employment involving minorsthough such positions typically require backgrouND screening.
The ruling comes more than a year after former acting Minister of Education, Culture, Youth aND Sport NDidate' href='/newspolitician/687/lyNDon-lewis'>LyNDon Lewis issued a public warning to all school bus drivers in response to growing reports of miscoNDuct.
On June 12, 2024, Minister Lewis addressed what he described as troubling reports of sexual harassment involving school bus drivers, saying: Predatory coNDuct will not be tolerated. Maintain the highest staNDards of professioSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAlism aND ethics while performing your dutiesor face the consequences.
Lewis revealed that within a few weeks of taking office, he had already rECEived three complaints, inclUDing one in which a bus driver allegedly took a stUDent into an alley.
The Prosecutors Office reiterated Thursday that the conviction uNDerscores the need to protect children in environments where they should feel safeespecially in school transportatioSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAND highlighted the importance of timely jUDicial haNDling in cases involving minors aND sexual miscoNDuct.
