A university professor from Iași pre-arrested after accusations of rape: a student was allegedly called to the office after an exam to discuss the grade
A 57-year-old professor from the “Ion Ionescu de la Brad” University of Life Sciences in Iași was arrested, being accused of rape by a student. The case came to the attention of the authorities after the young woman filed a complaint with the Police, and the university management launched an internal investigation.
A university professor from Iași was arrested after being accused of rape PHOTO: Shutterstock
Professor Corneliu Gașpar, who taught the subject “Ethics and academic integrity” at the University of Life Sciences (USV) in Iași, is accused by a student of having sexually assaulted her. According to the investigators, the alleged acts took place on July 9, after an exam.
The investigation began after a student notified the university and the authorities about an incident that allegedly happened on July 9, after a late exam. According to the complaint, the young woman was called to the teacher's office to discuss the grade, but at that moment he sexually assaulted her without consent. Later, notes the report of the Ethics Commission, the act is described as “non-consensual oral sexual act – rape – happened in the university perimeter, in the teacher's office (…) on the student”.
The young woman noticed, according to media reports, that the grade had not been changed after the meeting, and said the professor continued to inappropriately touch and kiss her, again, including in the university hallways, which were caught on surveillance cameras.
Following the complaint, the university management set up an Ethics Commission, which heard the student, her colleagues and other witnesses. Based on the evidence, the professor was dismissed from all teaching and research positions, and the university notified the criminal authorities.
The vice-rector in charge of social activities told Ziarul de Iași that, after reporting the university, “the board of directors was held, a disciplinary investigation commission was then set up — I thought it was only on a disciplinary level, but it was found that the facts were more serious” and that the file has been submitted to the University Ethics Commission and the competent authorities.
Court decision
The representatives of the Iași County Police Inspectorate announced that the teacher was detained and later remanded in custody. “Based on the evidence administered, on December 16, the 57-year-old man was detained for 24 hours by the police. On the same date, he was presented to the Prosecutor's Office attached to the Iasi District Court and to the Iasi District Court, so the court ordered the preventive arrest of him for 30 days”the representatives of the Iasi County Police sent, according to News.ro.
The research in this case continues, and the investigators will establish all the circumstances in which the alleged facts would have occurred.
