By PRATHAMESH DESHPANDE
Esperance Detectives are seeking public assistance while investigating a report of alleged “historical” child sexual abuse that occurred in Kambalda, a mining town around 60 kilometres south of Kalgoorlie.
A WA Police Media officer said it was reported a primary school student attending a local school was sexually assaulted in the classroom by a man between 1978 and 1979. She said this man was not a teacher or staff member but had permission to assist in the classroom.
The officer said inquiries had been unable to identify the man at this time. She said detectives urged anyone who was associated, worked, or attended the primary school who may know the name or details of a man who helped staff in the classroom, to come forward.
Esperance Detective sergeant Wayne Davies said the incident was reported “relatively recently”.
“The problem is that we have limited information as to the details of who worked back in those years,” he said.
“We have gone through the archives and are liaising with the Department of Education.
“All the records from back in the day have either been destroyed or not documented on computers.
Sgt Davies said the DoE did not have most of the information anymore and the town records were also limited.
“As far as addressing the difficulties, we’ve managed to identify some people in Kambalda who had some knowledge of the school, but we haven’t been able to identify the person who committed these offences,” he said.
Sgt Davies urged anyone who was in Kambalda during those years or who had any information about the school to come forward.
Anyone with any information relating to this incident can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via www.crimestopperswa.com.au .
If you are a victim of sexual abuse, or if you have information about someone being sexually abused, please contact police on 131 444, or report the information via the Safe2Say online reporting platform.
