Trial begins for Canberra childcare worker accused of indecently assaulting three children
By Patrick BellThe trial of a man accused of indecently assaulting three children at a Canberra childcare centre has heard he laughed off the allegation when questioned by his employer.
Key points:
Scullin man Muhammad Ali is accused of indecently assaulting three children at the childcare centre where he worked
One child allegedly told his mother Mr Ali "touched his doodle", which she reported to the centre that day
The court heard when the abuse allegation was put to Mr Ali by his employer he laughed it off
Scullin man Muhammad Ali, 29, is accused of inappropriately touching three children in the early months of last year, while he worked at the centre.
Mr Ali denies the charges, and his trial in the ACT Supreme Court began today.
The ABC has not named the childcare centre in order to protect the children's identities.
During his opening address, prosecutor Trent Hickey told the jury one of the alleged victims told his mother he had been touched when she collected him from the centre one afternoon in April.
Mr Hickey said the boy told his mother he "had a bad day" and "Ali had touched his doodle".
He said the boy's mother reported it to the centre that afternoon.
Mr Hickey told the jury that when staff interviewed Mr Ali the next day and put the allegation of abuse to him, he allegedly laughed.
The court heard that after the alleged assault, the boy bit Mr Ali and left a bruise.
Mr Ali told his employer he did not report being bitten, because he wanted to keep the boy from getting in trouble.
'It was not fun for me'
The court was also played the boy's evidence-in-chief interview, in which he repeatedly told a police officer "Ali pinched me on the doodle".
"He thinks it was fun and it was not fun for me, and then I bited [sic] him," the boy said.
Mr Ali is also accused of touching two siblings, a boy and a girl.
Today the court heard the girl's mother became concerned when she noticed redness and swelling around her daughter's genitalia.
The court heard the girl initially explained the swelling by saying she had fallen, but some time later told her mother Mr Ali had touched her, and said he had told her to say she had fallen.
The trial is expected to run for up to a fortnight.