A teacher who drugged and molested up to 90 boys on school trips around the world organised study tours to Bahrain, a report said.

Convicted paedophile William James Vahey, 64, committed suicide in a Minnesota hotel room last month after confessing to a friend of drugging and molesting children while on field trips, reported the Gulf Daily News, our sister publication.

The American worked as a middle/high school teacher in private US schools in countries, including Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, India, the UK, Iran, Spain, Greece, Lebanon, Venezuela and Nicaragua.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has issued a global advisory seeking public assistance in identifying the victims allegedly molested from 1972 up until last month.

It said his victims appeared to be mainly middle school-aged, between 12 and 14 years old.

He last worked for the Southbank International School in London as a history and geography teacher between 2009 and 2013.

But it was an employee of the American Nicaraguan School, located in Pista Suburbana, Managua, Nicaragua, who filed a complaint with the FBI alleging a USB drive owned by the suspect contained pornographic images of young boys who appeared to be asleep or unconscious.

The FBI said it found folders containing the pornographic images titled with locations and corresponding dates the employee believed referenced locations Vahey had previously travelled with students.

"According to the report, when the employee confronted Vahey about the images, he confessed he was molested as a child and admitted he molested boys throughout his entire life," said an FBI statement.

"He reportedly admitted giving the minors sleeping pills prior to the molestation."

Through the ongoing investigation, FBI agents reviewed photographs dating back to 2008 that depict at least 90 alleged victims.

Notification

"While the review is ongoing, the FBI is seeking to notify individuals of the existence of the investigation and encourage additional victims to come forward," it said.

In addition to foreign nationals, the schools where the paedophile taught were attended by the children of American diplomats, military personnel stationed overseas, and other Americans working abroad.

The child predator also co-ordinated and accompanied students on various overnight field trips, cultural studies trips, and other educational or athletic travel opportunities.

"According to his resume, Vahey participated in student study tours in the following countries: Thailand, India, Jordan, Nepal, Bahrain, Syria, Greece, Egypt, Russia, England, Kenya, Hungary, Turkey, Iran, Mexico, Panama, Costa Rica, and Venezuela," stated the FBI.

In Saudi Arabia, he worked from 1980 to 1992 as a middle school assistant principal and social studies teacher for middle school students.

He also co-ordinated K-9 social studies curriculum at Saudi Aramco Schools, located in Dhahran.

The California State University educated teacher was married with two adult children and maintained two residences in London and South Carolina.

He was found guilty of one count of child molestation and was sentenced to 90 days in jail, followed by five years' probation.

The conviction required him to register with California's sex offender registry for the remainder of his life, but he has failed to renew his registration as a sex offender since 1970.

The FBI said it will continue to work with the US Department of State Diplomatic Security Service and national and international law enforcement partners on the investigation to bring closure to his alleged heinous crimes. Victims have been asked to contact the nearest US Embassy or Consulate. – TradeArabia News Service