In Johannesburg, South Africa, police say they made an arrest on Friday. A former dormitory employee at Oprah Winfrey's leadership academy for girls was arrested on charges of abuse, including indecent acts. At least seven alleged victims have submitted statements about the woman, police said. “Several charges including alleged assault, indecent assault, crimen injuria and soliciting girls under age to perform indecent acts are being investigated against her." The suspect is being held by police and should appear in front of the magistrate on Monday morning. South Africa's Rapport newspaper reported a matron at the school allegedly fondled one of the girls, and grabbed a girl by the throat and threw her against a wall. The report said other school employees were also implicated in misconduct. A very tearful Oprah flew to South Africa and asked the parents to forgive her. She said that she is very sorry that this has happened and she feels that she let them down. The $40 million academy has been dogged by controversy since it opened in January. Parents have complained that the school is too strict and its restrictions to visits, phone calls and email contact were comparable to prison rules.
In May, some parents complained their children were not allowed junk food and when they visited the school they had to go through a security gate. Oprah hand-selected the first class of 152 poor, mostly black girls to attend the posh school that boasts state-of-the-art facilities including laboratories, a yoga studio and beauty salon. It is situated on 52 acres at Henley-on-Klip, south of Johannesburg. Tuition and board is free at the residential school. The academy provides its 450 students with textbooks, uniforms and meals.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21595990/from/RS.2/
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