SKY NEWS
04/25/2014
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Vahey taught at Jakarta International School for a decade |
British detectives are helping an international investigation into the scale of his crimes. Vahey killed himself in a Minnesota motel room on March 21.
His suicide came two days after FBI agents filed for a warrant to search a computer thumb drive containing abuse images of at least 90 children dating back to 2008.
Sir Chris told Sky News he discovered children at his school had been targeted after receiving information from the Met Police, who were informed by the FBI.
He said: "When we appointed him (Vahey) we had a criminal records bureau investigation done.
"We had another CRB check three years later; we requested interviews from his previous schools covering 17 years of his previous professional employment. The references were immaculate."
Vahey worked at the school from 2009-2013, teaching history and geography to pupils aged 11-16.
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Vahey |
One couple said he taught their 13-year-old son last year.
The mother said: "I couldn't sleep for worrying about it and I had to sit my son down and ask him if anything had ever happened in school.
"Mr Vahey also took my son on a field trip abroad and this is a big concern for us.
"My son is fine, though, and I would have expected his behaviour to change if anything happened so I don't think anything did.
"I know there are pictures that police have of boys but if my son is on the list, I don't want to know and I don't want him to know."
A Venezuelan school, Escuela Campo Alegre, has also spoken of its "great shock and disappointment" at finding out about Vahey.
The victims on the American's computer drive appeared drugged and unconscious in the images.
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Vahey taught at Southbank International School |
thumb drive was handed to the US Embassy by one of Vahey's co-workers at the American Nicaraguan School in Managua after it was discovered by one of his domestic staff.
The FBI said: "When confronted about the images by a school administrator, Vahey confessed that he was molested as a child and had preyed on boys his entire life, giving them sleeping pills prior to the molestation."
Victims appear to have been abused during overnight field trips.
It is believed he may have preyed on children on a massive scale during a 40-year teaching career in at least 10 countries.
The FBI said Vahey was jailed for child molestation in California in 1969, but the conviction does not appear to have shown up when checked by schools.
It said some of the victims may not realise they were abused because they were unconscious at the time.