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	Hindu Priest Kept Teaching Kids after Sex Allegations Surfaced The Province November 17, 2010 http://www.theprovince.com/news/Hindu+priest+kept+teaching+kids+after+allegations+surfaced/3845578/story.html A Hindu priest charged with sex offences against two young girls continued to teach at an Abbotsford, B.C., temple for eight months after allegations of abuse were first made. Abbotsford police arrested Indian citizen Karam Vir Monday on two charges of sexual exploitation and one charge of sexual assault. He was fired the following day. "We were shocked. Everyone was shocked by this," said Vijay Gautam, general secretary of the Fraser Valley Hindu Society, which runs the Abbotsford temple. "Nobody expected him to be like that." Gautam said leaders learned of the allegations March 12 when they received several anonymous letters accusing a person in authority of sexual misconduct. The letters did not name the victims or their alleged abuser, but the temple committee called a meeting to discuss them. "We talked to our members as well as the people who come for prayer. At that time, we didn't want to terminate the priest because we wanted to make sure he was the culprit," Gautam said in an interview Wednesday. Abbotsford police Const. Ian MacDonald said the temple committee brought the matter to police on the same day a girl approached them with allegations of sexual abuse. A second victim, another girl also under the age of 18, came forward later. Gautam said police began investigating, and a letter was posted on the door of the temple asking anyone with information to come forward. The temple committee also installed video cameras in the temple and around Vir's home, which is attached to the temple. They did not record anything untoward. "We have not received any complaints from anyone," he said. MacDonald said police suggested the committee place Vir on a leave of absence while they investigated. But Gautam said that because police had not laid charges the priest was allowed to continue his duties, which brought him into regular contact with families, including children and youth. "He had duties to perform here," he said. Temple worshippers expressed shock at the charges Wednesday, saying Vir had the temple's support before his arrest. "So far he was the best (priest at the temple)," said Pawan Gandha. "A more hard-working guy we have never met." Vir was responsible for leading worship and teaching services three days a week, in addition to presiding over festivals and celebrations. He had been at the Abbotsford temple for about two years. Although he was an Indian citizen in Canada on a work visa, he had previously worked in Ontario, according to police. Gautam said he was hired by a previous temple committee and a criminal record check was not done. "In the future we will change that," he said. About 150 people, including children and youth, attend services at the temple, which is one of the few Hindu temples in the Fraser Valley. The priest's home appeared abandoned on Wednesday. Vir made his first court appearance Tuesday and was released on bail after surrendering his passport.
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