The case against a swimming instructor accused of assaulting and raping pupils opens on Friday at a court in Den Bosch.

Swimming teacher Benno L. (surname withheld) is suspected of having indecently assaulted at least 98 girls and of possessing and distributing child pornography. Last week the prosecutor also accused him of raping an underage girl.

Police are still sifting through the pornographic material found on the teacher's computers, and say it will take until the end of December before everything has been checked.

No immediate developments are expected, the first court session being little more than a formal opening of the case. Yet many parents of Benno L's pupils are expected at the court, which has set aside two viewing rooms equipped with video screens for people who want to follow the proceedings. The accused himself will be present.

Benno L. specialised in giving swimming training to children with social or mental handicaps, and worked at several pools in the southern Dutch city of Den Bosch. He was arrested in June after a computer repairman he called in had found suspicious material on his harddisk and reported the discovery to the police.

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