Father of molested child not ‘ruled out as a suspect’

The father who approached this newspaper on Saturday agonising over the fate of his three-year-old daughter who had been molested, and, according to him, returned to the sane environment, has not been ruled out as a suspect in the abuse of the child.

Director of the Child Care and Protection Agency (CPA) Ann Green told this newspaper yesterday that under the circumstances, the agency felt it would be better if the child remained with her mother until the investigation was completed. “We have not yet ascertained who is the abuser,” Green said.

She pointed out that the father was going around misrepresenting the matter since the relative he has accused does not live with the mother.

After the father visited this newspaper on Saturday, Green was contacted and asked to comment on the case. She told this newspaper that she was not in a position to comment, but would be better able to do so on Monday (yesterday), which was reported in the story that appeared in the Sunday Stabroek. She reiterated yesterday that she did not comment on Saturday because she wanted to be informed before doing so.

She confirmed that the case is engaging the agency’s attention and pointed out that the father’s quest for custody of the three-year-old was at the root of the matter. She indicated too that the mother and father “have a history” and stressed that since the abuser is not known at this point “we feel the child is safe with the mother”.

Asked whether the underlying issue was in fact his quest for custody of his daughter, the father told this newspaper yesterday that the issue was not about who gets the child but the child’s safety.

Green said the agency felt being with the mother was best for the child. She said the mother had admitted that she works in the evening and leaves the child “with people”.

However, the agency is now assisting the mother with counselling and with finding a day job so that she can take better care of the child. The mother needs help with the child, which she is getting, Green said.

The CPA director pointed out that the agency must act in the best interest of the child. She said the focus is on the child and given her age, putting her in an overcrowded institution would not be in her best interest.

The child needs special attention and the agency feels it would be better if she stays with her mother, especially since she is taking medication and treatment.  However, she said, if it ever became necessary the child would and could be placed in an institution.

When the father visited this newspaper on Saturday, he said the child was released into her mother’s custody after a meeting with Green. He said that at the meeting, the mother “cry down” and accused him of the act and the child was returned to the mother.

However, Green said yesterday that at the time the medical was obtained, there were “fresh marks” of molestation and therefore the father has not been ruled out as a suspect.

The matter is being investigated by the police.