Child sex abuse inquiry: Former Knox teacher denies he was 'balaclava man'

By Nicole Chettle
ABC News
April 28, 2015

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-04-28/knox-grammars-balaclava-man-to-face-royal-commission/6425170

Christopher Fotis has denied any knowledge of the 'balaclava man' incident, when a sleep student was sexually assaulted.

Christopher Fotis says he did not appear at the inquiry into child sexual abuse because of concerns about his privacy.

Knox Grammar is under scrutiny over allegations of inappropriate conduct by teachers against students.

A former teacher at Sydney's Knox Grammar School has denied he was the so-called balaclava man, who indecently assaulted a sleeping student in 1988.

The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse previously heard that in 1988, a teenage boarder woke to find a masked man groping him from under his bed and many people believed the former boarding master Christopher Fotis was the perpetrator.

The police were not contacted about the incident, but former headmaster Dr Ian Paterson told the commission he suspected Mr Fotis committed the indecent assault, but he had no proof.

In his opening statement, counsel assisting the commission, David Lloyd said Mr Fotis continued teaching at Knox Grammar School until "the latter part of 1989" when he resigned "after being arrested for masturbating in his car while parked outside a school".

The commission heard that after he was found guilty of unlawful exposure, Mr Fotis went on to do casual work in the state school system and there were no police checks at the time.

Mr Fotis said he first became aware of the assault by a masked man on the student, known as ARN, during the royal commission.

He denied approaching ARN the night before and saying "I've got a surprise for you tonight" or "I'm going to get you tonight".

During the evidence, Mr Lloyd asked Mr Fotis if he recalled ARN saying "don't touch me" to which he replied: "Why? Don't you like being touched?"

Mr Fotis denied that conversation happened - and any knowledge of the indecent assault of ARN.

In the hearing today, Mr Lloyd reminded Mr Fotis that any misinformation could see him charged with perjury.

David Lloyd: "You, as one of the four resident masters in MacNeil house, who you know was thought to be suspected by many having perpetrated the crime, say to the commission you had no knowledge of this incident - is that seriously your evidence?"

Christopher Fotis: "I didn't know that I was suspected of this incident."

David Lloyd: "Did you know about the incident at the time?"

Christopher Fotis: "No."

David Lloyd: "I'll ask you this question Mr Fotis - was it you who assaulted ARN?"

Christopher Fotis: "No."

Mr Fotis said he was never interviewed by the former headmaster's assistant and former police prosecutor, Stuart Pearson.

He said he did speak to the headmaster, Dr Paterson, but not about the assault.

Christopher Fotis: "There was one conversation where he expressed concern that there was a perception amongst the boys that I was bisexual."

David Lloyd: "And what else happened?"

Christopher Fotis: "He suggested I act more like him."

David Lloyd: "Did he give you any more details about how you should act more like him?"

Christopher Fotis: "No."

After the attack on ARN, Mr Fotis was moved out of the boarding house to the "Woodville Property", which Mr Fotis said needed "looking after" while it was being converted to an administration building.

The commission heard excerpts from a letter written by Dr Paterson, which read: "No boys, of course, in or around the house at any time. Please remove yourself completely from the boarding houses and only use the dining rooms for meals."

Mr Fotis said the letter was "commonsense and unexceptional" because "Woodville was a separate property outside the gates of Knox Grammar and as such boys would effectively be truanting unless they had special permission to go down there."

Mr Fotis said that he first started working at the school in 1986 for the practical part of his university studies.

He was recruited the following year by Dr Paterson, who Mr Fotis said neither requested references nor asked if he had a criminal record.

The commission heard Mr Fotis resigned after being arrested for masturbating in his car while parked outside a school.

Mr Fotis said he left Knox Grammar in October 1989 after Dr Paterson learned he was facing charges of unlawful exposure in the local court.

"The case was made out," he said. "Yes, I was found guilty".

Mr Fotis said "it wasn't in front of a school or near a school".

He told the commission his resignation letter cited personal and family reasons, but "it doesn't go into some of the subtleties".

The hearing also heard Mr Fotis was given a reference from Dr Paterson after he resigned.

Mr Lloyd read details of the reference provided to Mr Fotis.

David Lloyd: "It records an opinion about the way in which you went about doing your job, correct?"

Christopher Fotis: "Yes".

David Lloyd: "It says that you were an enthusiast for your job and meticulous in preparation and definite in the standards and you've been an enormous help to the chaplain, see that?"

Christopher Fotis: "Yes".

David Lloyd: "That to your mind was a fairly positive reference".

Christopher Fotis: "Well it's not negative

Fotis says privacy concerns prompted him to avoid hearing

In March a warrant was issued for the arrest of Mr Fotis after he failed to appear at the hearing.

But Mr Fotis said he didn't receive summons to appear until April 10.

He was asked today whether he was trying to avoid appearing at an inquiry.

He told the commission that during the hearing he never received the summons and that he was concerned for his privacy.

"I did what I was legally entitled to do. I was a free man without any legal obligation," Mr Fotis said.

"And I based my movements upon that ... I'm a private person. This is a very public hearing.

"And I suppose if there is any reason then it comes down to that - I'm a private person."

Knox Grammar, at Wahroonga in Sydney's northern suburbs, is under scrutiny for its handling of allegations of inappropriate conduct by a number of teachers towards students between 1970 and 2012.