The case against a Manhattan pre-school intern from the Netherlands , who has been accused of molesting several 4- and 5-year-olds in his charge at a posh Manhattan preschool, appears to be crumbling.
Prosecutors disclosed Thursday that 12 of the 13 children Malthe Thomsen, 22, is accused of molesting at the International Preschool denied they were touched inappropriately by him.
“We have interviewed 13 children,” said prosecutor Rachel Ferrari at a status update before Justice Gregory Carro. “One child was aware of being inappropriately touched and 12 children denied being aware they were touched. The two teachers in the classroom where he was assigned from the months of March through the school year of June said they never observed him inappropriately touch a child.”
The case is still being investigated and will be presented to a grand jury by Sept 17, Ferrari told the judge.
Thomsen was locked up June 27 and indicted on 15 counts of sex abuse at the East 45th Street school, including allegations he forced the tots to touch his genitals.
The school’s internal investigation cleared Thomsen of wrongdoing. The defense has insisted that the allegations originate from a troubled teacher’s assistant, Mariangela Kefalas, who has since been dismissed from the school.
Prosecutors have a videotaped confession but the defense is arguing it was coerced. “They lied to him and told him that a video existed that specifically showed him taking a child’s hand and putting it on his genitals and inappropriately touching children,” said defense attorney Jane Fisher-Byrialsen. “That’s the false evidence ploy.”
Fisher-Byrialsen has teamed up with the Innocence Project to fight the vile allegations against Thomsen.
“What frustrates me the most is I have a client who is innocent, who can’t go on with his education, who has been marked with one the worst Scarlet Letters you can ever be marked with,” she said.
Thomsen is free on $400,000 bail, must wear an electronic monitoring bracelet at all times and cannot leave Manhattan.