A REMOTE area principal who allegedly taped a “naughty” student to a desk has been placed on leave and is under investigation by NT Police.

The principal, who the NT News has chosen not to name for legal reasons, was placed on leave on Thursday, two days after the NT News asked the Education Department why he had not been stood down pending potential criminal charges. The NT News reported in February that the principal was being investigated for allegedly taping the “troubled” and “naughty” girl to the desk to stop her going to the toilet, and for allegedly chasing a boy across the school oval with a cattle prod.

The Education Department later removed the cattle prod from the school.

At the time, the principal’s lawyer, Merran Short, said in a letter to the NT News: “We are confident that our client will be exonerated by the internal investigation”.

Ms Short’s letter also said the “problem” was with the people who complained against the principal, who she said were “disgruntled”.

A witness in the internal investigation said the investigator was “professional and thorough”, and had flown to Melbourne to speak with another witness to the taping incident. That witness is understood to be in possession of a photograph of the girl taped to the desk.

A source said the families of the alleged victims have also sought legal advice with an eye on possible civil action against the Education Department and the principal.

Another source said the internal investigation was “essentially complete”.

But Education Department spokeswoman Kathryn Acampora said the internal investigation was technically on hold, pending the police investigation.

“Appropriate action will be undertaken once the department’s investigation is complete,” she said.

“The Teachers Registration Board is aware of the investigation. The department is awaiting the outcome of the police investigation, which will determine whether a formal referral to the Teachers Registration Board is required.”

Ms Acampora did not respond to direct questions about whether the internal or police investigation had uncovered a photograph of the girl taped to the desk, which multiple sources claim to have seen.