Strawberry Mansion elementary school teacher charged with child rape

Sumo Dukulah, 39. (Credit: Philadelphia Police Department)

Detectives with the Special Victims Unit on Thursday arrested elementary school teacher Sumo Dukulah, 39, for allegedly raping a juvenile family member for over eight years.

Dukulah was a teacher at Leslie P. Hill Elementary School in Strawberry Mansion at the time of his arrest, according to authorities.

Prosecutors said Dukulah began assaulting the victim when the child was 8 years old and continued until the child was 16 years old.

Dukulah is charged with rape, involuntary deviant sexual intercourse, unlawful contact with a minor, aggravated indecent assault, unlawful restraint, sexual assault, false imprisonment, corrupting the morals of a minor, endangering the welfare of a child and indecent exposure.

He was arraigned Thursday night.

Bail was set at $500,000 and Dukulah was ordered to surrender his passport.

He is next due in court on May 15 for a preliminary hearing.

Officials said the investigation into the school teacher’s alleged misconduct is ongoing.

Anyone with information concerning Dukulah is asked to contact the Special victims Unit at 215-685-3251, 3252 or 3253 or to call the District Attorney’s Family Violence and Sexual Assault Unit at 215-686-8080.