Matale Police charges counsellor in child abuse case

6 January 2021 03:17 am Views - 3709

" In a strange turn of events, six months since the event, the Matale Police filed a case against Ms. Wells, charging her with coercing a child to give false statements"

A social worker and counsellor who came across an abused child and promptly handed her over to the police in August 2020, has been charged with coercing the child to give false statements. The Daily Mirror on September 10 reported this incident where Child Rights Advocate Ruvini Wells came across a child who had been repeatedly burnt and tortured by her mother. Following a discussion with the child and a witness who brought the child to Ms. Wells, she promptly escorted the child to the Wattegama Police Station where they were made to sit for hours only to be told that they were unable to investigate the case. 

12-year-old Nirmani (named changed to protect identity) was then sent to the Matale Police station where she was forced to reunite with her wicked mother. Despite various attempts to explain to the police officers involved, that the mother’s wicked approach had traumatized the child and that had led her to attempts of suicide, no action had been taken to present the child to a Judicial Medical Officer or to a counsellor. 

"If an unknown child is brought to me with burnt marks and the horrifying story she had to say, instead of handing her over to the Police, what else was I supposed to do? Should I have looked away? Cannot a citizen of this country raise his/her concerns to the Police being part of civil responsibility?"

At the time the Daily Mirror inquired from WCI Palipana of the Matale Police who said that Nirmani is now detained at a Juvenile Offenders’ Detention Centre, despite her being the victim of abuse. The mother of the child was arrested following visits by Ms. Wells to the SDIG Kandy, but was later released by the Matale Police. 
In a strange turn of events, six months since the event, the Matale Police filed a case against Ms. Wells, charging her with coercing a child to give false statements. 

Ms. Wells who possesses all recordings of the conversation she had had with the child when the child was brought to her, says the Matale Police has continuously harassed her for exposing their inaptitude. “This incident took place in July 2020. After six months, the Matale Police have completely twisted the entire story. It is a sad and disgraceful state of affairs,” Ms. Wells speaking to the Daily Mirror said. She has also been receiving strange phone calls inquiring into her residential location and other private details, in the continued harassment she has faced since reporting this incident. 

"The 12-year-old child’s mother had repeatedly assaulted her with a broom stick, inflicted wounds using a knife and even burnt her"

Ms. Wells has also been questioned about the organization she represents, implying that cases of child abuse could only be highlighted by an organization. “If an unknown child is brought to me with burnt marks and the horrifying story she had to say, instead of handing her over to the Police, what else was I supposed to do? Should I have looked away? Cannot a citizen of this country raise his/her concerns to the Police being part of civil responsibility?” Ms. Wells questioned. 

The 12-year-old child’s mother had repeatedly assaulted her with a broom stick, inflicted wounds using a knife and even burnt her, according to an audio recording of her discussions with the counsellors. However, the Matale Police have chosen to charge the counselor who was involved in the case. 
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http://www.dailymirror.lk/news-features/Im-scared-to-see-her-face/131-195553