A former teacher accused of abusing a pupil at an Edinburgh school by a Scots broadcaster has been arrested and charged in South Africa. The man, who is known as “Edgar” for legal reasons, taught at both the Edinburgh Academy and Fettes College in the 1960s and 70s.
BBC presenter Nicky Campbell, who attended Edinburgh Academy, is one of a number of former pupils at the school who have made allegations of sexual and physical abuse against him. After a documentary about the educator aired in South Africa, a man has come forward to claim he was abused by Edgar at a school in Cape Town in the 1980s.
The now 83-year-old attended a sexual offences office near Claremont Police Station, in Cape Town, on Monday morning, the BBC reports. It is understood that he has since appeared at Wynberg Magistrates Court charged with indecent assault.
He denies the claims against him and has been released pending a further hearing after handing over his passport.
South Africa approved a UK extradition request for Edgar in 2020 but there have been a series of delays to an appeal of this decision by the suspect. A hearing is due to be held in March.
BBC 5 Live presenter Nicky was a 10-year-old pupil at his prestigious former school when he says he saw Edgar molesting a classmate. Nicky came forward about the alleged abuse, which took place in the 1970s, last July.
It prompted complaints from other former pupils of Edinburgh Academy, as well as Fettes College where Edgar later taught. 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.
Both Edinburgh Academy and Fettes College have since apologised to victims of abuse.
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