Doha Academy Abuse Case: Parents of 10-Year-Old Challenge School's Statement

The parents of a 10-year-old girl who claims she was sexually abused while attending Doha Academy — a private school located in Eau-Coulée, in the central part of Mauritius — have publicly disputed an official statement issued by the school on 6 October. In testimony shared with ION News, the family says they filed a formal police complaint on 31 August 2026 and are calling on investigators to move forward without further delay. According to the parents, their daughter identified a fellow student — aged 18 — as the alleged perpetrator. They say they first noticed troubling changes in her behaviour and psychological state before she eventually disclosed what had allegedly happened to her. The child was subsequently hospitalised and medically examined, and the relevant authorities were notified, the parents confirmed. A reconstruction of events — a formal procedure in which the alleged sequence of events is re-enacted — was also carried out at the school premises, with the child, her parents, and their lawyer present. **Family raises serious concerns about school's response** The parents are openly critical of what they describe as an inadequate response from the school's management. Among their key concerns: whether the school premises are sufficiently safe for students, and whether CCTV footage that could be relevant to the case has been properly preserved. Their lawyer has written to the relevant authorities expressing concern about the pace of the investigation. She also intends to formally request that the school correct or retract the statement it issued on 6 October, which the family says does not accurately reflect the situation. Doha Academy, which offers a curriculum catering to expatriate and local families, has not yet publicly responded to the family's specific contestations at the time of reporting. **What this means** This case raises broader questions about child safety protocols in private schools in Mauritius, and about how institutions respond when allegations of abuse are made against a student on their premises. Families and legal advocates are pressing for transparency — both from the school and from the police — as the investigation continues. The involvement of a lawyer and the formal reconstruction procedure suggest the case is being pursued through official legal channels. Mauritian law provides for criminal proceedings in cases of sexual abuse involving minors, and delays in such investigations can be subject to legal challenge. Source: ION News