Children's Home Administrator sent to prison

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 09 November 2004, 13:20 GMT]
Trincomalee Magistrate Mr.M.Ganesharajah Tuesday imposed a fine of five hundred rupees and one-month imprisonment on Mr.Sangarapillai Suntheralingam, the former administrator of " Anbu Illam" (children home) in Trincomalee for having violated the Orphanage Ordinance of the North East Provincial Department of Social and Child Care, legal sources said.

Provincial Department of Social Services and Child Care charged Mr Suntheralingam on three counts that he had violated the Orphanage Ordinance by not registering the children home with proper authorities. He also violated the Provision of Section 9 of the Orphanage Ordinance by failing and refusing to furnish return about the children home though requested and called same by the Probation Officer. Thirdly, he violated the provision of Section 10 of the said Orphanage Ordinance by resisting and obstructing the probation officers from performing their duties imposed upon them under Section 18(1)(d) of the said ordinance, legal sources said.

Mr.Suntheralingam pleaded guilty to the charges.

Attorneys Mr.Hanifu Lebbe and Mr.J.M.Lahir appeared for the prosecution.

Attorney Mr.A.Vinayagamoorthy appeared for the defence, sources said.

Mr.Suntheralingam still faces seven cases of alleged sexual abuse on complaints made by several inmates of the children home. He has been enlarged on cash bail of ten thousand rupees in each case. The Magistrate Mr.Ganesharajah allowed Mr.Suntheralingam Tuesday on cash bail of ten thousand rupees in the seventh alleged sexual abuse case which came up for inquiry Tuesday, legal sources said.

Currently the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) is administering "Anbu Illam" on the orders of Trincomalee Magistrate, following complaints of alleged sexual abuse against the former administration.