Teacher accused of Edinburgh abuse charged with indecent assault

A former teacher accused by BBC presenter Nicky Campbell and others of abuse at schools in Edinburgh has appeared in court in South Africa.

The 83-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was charged with committing an indecent act with a minor, and indecent assault at a boys primary school in Cape Town in 1988.

The man, known in a BBC documentary as "Edgar", has denied claims against him.

He was released pending a further hearing.

The former teacher agreed to surrender his passport to police.

He appeared at Wynberg Magistrates Court in Cape Town on Monday after being arrested and taken by an officer to a police sexual offences office with his lawyer.

Broadcaster Campbell is one of several former pupils who have made allegations relating to the man's time teaching at Fettes College and Edinburgh Academy in the 1960s and 1970s.

"Edgar" admitted abusing young boys while teaching at Fettes College and Edinburgh Academy, according to South African court documents seen by the BBC, although his legal team subsequently insisted that he denied the allegations.

He also denies molesting students after moving to South Africa to teach at a prestigious boys school in Cape Town.

Extradition fight

The former teacher is currently fighting extradition from South Africa to the UK.

The authorities in Cape Town approved an extradition request in 2020 but the process has been delayed by an appeal against the decision.

Magistrate Goolam Bawa released "Edgar" on what is known in the South African courts as a warning, under the conditions that he has no contact with his accuser and that his passport is handed to the police.

The magistrate also issued an order preventing the media from naming him or any accuser.

Separately, "Edgar" is subject to an order at the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry preventing his identification.

He is due back in court in Cape Town on April 13.

In December, a man who said he was abused by the former teacher at Fettes College in the 1970s, was awarded £450,000 in damages.

Fettes College has apologised to victims of abuse.

Information and support for those affected by abuse is available at BBC Action Line.