By Aleks Devic
Geelong Advertiser
August 18, 2011
http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2011/08/18/273955_news.html
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| Robert Best |
POLICE are investigating 10 more cases of alleged abuse by jailed child sex molester and Christian Brother Robert Best, who taught at St Joseph's College in the 1980s.
There are at least 10 ex-students who have come forward and police expect more will follow suit.
One alleged victim who has come forward is a Geelong man in his 30s, who yesterday detailed to the Geelong Advertiser a litany of alleged abuse inside classrooms at St Joseph's College while he was aged 12 and 13. The man plans to tell police of his torment.
It is understood at least three students taught by Best at St Joseph's have committed suicide.
Best was a teacher at St Alipius Primary School in Ballarat between 1963 and 1973, at St Leo's College, Box Hill, between 1975 and 1985, and St Joseph's College, from 1985 to 1988 and was this month jailed for 14 years and nine months for sexually abusing 11 boys at the schools.
The alleged victim, who spoke out yesterday, said other teachers and brothers knew what Best was doing, with many privy to his behaviour while he taught at St Joseph's, but did nothing.
He is angry at what he calls a lack of controls that allowed Best to continue teaching, even with accusations of sex abuse circling around him before he arrived at St Joseph's.
"It's a bit like having a pitbull. You don't get the pitbull and throw it in a playground without a leash when you know what is going to happen," he said.
"Who is to blame here, the owner or the pitbull? That's what they did with Best. They allowed him to move around schools and schools assisted and aided his abuse.
"He was allowed to come in and out of classrooms and wield his power. The decision makers should be held accountable for what they did."
The alleged victim claims Best sexually abused him in front of classmates while he was aged 12 and 13 and detailed Best's violent disciplinary ways.
"He was always over the top when he disciplined us and would always want to dominate," he said.
"He would push students against the wall and hit them and then some would fight back."
He said the abuse he experienced was too hard to comprehend and did not think anyone would believe him.
"I don't know why I didn't tell anyone because I knew what was happening was wrong. I was just embarrassed and felt so helpless," he said.
The former student has backed calls for a public inquiry into clergy abuse against children.
Best will spend at least 11 years and three months in jail before he is eligible for parole after being found guilty of 27 sex-related offences.
Contact: aleks.devic@geelongadvertiser.com.au
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