Knox Grammar royal commission: Former teacher Christopher Fotis takes the stand

By Rachel Browne
Sydney Morning Herald
April 28, 2015

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/knox-grammar-royal-commission-former-teacher-christopher-fotis-takes-the-stand-20150428-1mugsl.html

Chris Fotis after giving evidence leaves the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to child sexual abuse on Tuesday.

Former Knox old boy and teacher Chris Fotis.

Disgraced former Knox Grammar School teacher Christopher Fotis​ continued to work in both the public and Catholic education system after being caught exposing his genitals in public, a royal commission has heard.

Fotis, 52, was asked to resign from the prestigious private school in 1989 after being arrested for exposing himself.

He told  the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse that he worked as a casual teacher in NSW public schools and a Catholic school for six or seven months in 1990 following his arrest.

Fotis told commissioner Jennifer Coate he was never asked to provide proof of his experience when working as a casual teacher.

The commission heard when former Knox Grammar headmaster Ian Paterson became aware of the incident, he asked Fotis to resign.

"Dr Paterson called me into his office and he had mentioned a legal matter which was nothing to do with the school directly," Fotis said.

"The legal matter was some charges pending in the local court, unlawful exposure. It was alleged my person could be seen from a public place."

Counsel assisting the commission David Lloyd asked: "By that do you mean your penis?"

Fotis replied: "Well . . . yes."

The witness, who did not appear at the commission's original hearing into the school in February, denied the incident took place near a school but agreed it occurred when he was in his car on a Ryde street. He told the commission he was later found guilty of unlawful exposure.

He was allowed to resign from Knox in October 1989 and asked for a reference from Dr Paterson which read: "Mr Fotis is an enthusiast for his job. He is meticulous in his preparation and definite in the standards he requires from his students."

Fotis told the commission Dr Paterson did not ask him if was going to seek work as a teacher elsewhere.

The commission heard previous evidence Fotis was suspected of being the balaclava-clad man who sexually assaulted a young boarder at the school in the early hours of November 23, 1988.

Fotis told the commission he first learnt of the incident when the public hearing into alleged abuse at the school started in February.

Fotis did not appear at the original hearing into the school and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

The commission heard Fotis was one of four resident masters at MacNeil House, where the year 8 boy was allegedly groped on his genitals, screaming: "Some faggot's got my balls."

Fotis told the commission he was unaware of the incident despite residing in the boarding house.

Mr Lloyd asked: "Is that seriously your evidence?"

Fotis told the royal commission he did not assault the boy, given the pseudonym ARN.

The commission heard Dr Paterson hired Fotis in 1987 without asking for references or checking whether or not he had a criminal record.

Counsel for Fotis Margaret Bateman told the commission he did not appear at the initial hearing in February because he was not served with a summons.

Mr Fotis told the commission he was not legally obliged to appear in February.

"I was a free man, legally entitled to move about anywhere I wanted," he said.

"I am a private person. This is a very public hearing."

The hearing, before Justice Jennifer Coate, has adjourned.