A disgraced former John Mackenzie Primary School (JMS) teacher is facing three further charges of indecent assault, bringing the current count against him to six.
66-year-old Mervyn Greenland, who taught at JMS for 21 years until his suspension on 8 October 2018, appeared before Francistown Magistrate Court on Monday.
His case was heard in the Magistrate’s chambers behind closed doors.
According to the updated charge sheet, the Zimbabwean’s suspected reign of terror dates back to 2004.
It is alleged Greenland indecently assaulted a primary school-going girl, forcing her to touch his penis before pulling her dress up and rubbing his manhood against her.
On the second count, it was heard that sometime in 2010, Greenland indecently assaulted a second child, directing her to touch his penis and caressing her thighs.
Later that year, he is said to have assaulted a third student, touching her vagina and caressing her thighs.
Suspicions against the teacher popularly known as ‘Mr G’ were first raised two years ago, when three 10-year-old girls accused him of assault.
All three incidents are said to have occurred on 27 September 2018.
It was after the allegations against the father-of-seven spread on social media that past pupils came forward with similar accusations.
In a brief interview with The Voice this week, Central Police Station Commander, Lebalang Maniki confirmed the disturbing new developments in the case.
“The ones that were registered in 2018 are still pending before the High Court. The latest cases were reported last year but due to prolonged investigations were only taken to court this week. The former students, who are now adults, are the ones who reported that the time they were schooling at John Mackenzie they were also molested. So far the accused person is facing six counts altogether,” concluded Maniki.
Greenland has pleaded not guilty to all the charges and is due back in court on 11 March 2021 for case management conference.
His trial has been set for 6 and 8 April next year.
