Trinco Children Home director remanded on fresh charges

[TamilNet, Friday, 22 October 2004, 15:09 GMT]
Trincomalee Magistrate Mr.M.Ganesharajah Friday ordered further remand for Mr.S.Sutheralingam, former director of a children home ''Anbu Illam'' in Trincomalee in connection with alleged child sexual abuse for October 29, rejecting the bail application made on his behalf, legal sources said.

Attorney-at-Law Mr.Appathurai Vinayagamoorthy made the bail application on behalf of the suspect stating that the Police have gone out of the way to bring a fresh charge against his client without following normal procedures, legal sources said.

He submitted to court that a former inmate of the children home from Muttur East was brought to the government controlled Muttur area with the assistance of Muttur Divisional Secretary and her statement was recorded by the Police, falsely implicating the suspect, legal sources said.

Mr.J.M.Lafir, Attorney-at-Law appearing on behalf of the Department of Probation and Child Care objected to the bail application.

He said tha the Police investigation has not been completed and further brought to the notice of the court that the Police followed the right procedures in taking statement from the complainant girl.

The Magistrate ordered further remand for the suspect till October 29.

The Children and Women Welfare Desk of the Trincomalee Police has already filed preliminary reports in courts against the suspect in connection with ten complaints of sexual abuse.

Probation Department officials said two more complaints of sexual abuse against the suspect are under the investigation of the Probation Office and Police, legal sources said.