A total of seven boys interviewed in the probe of a Muslim cleric show signs of sexual abuse, a source close to the investigation told Stabroek News yesterday.
So far, nine boys have been questioned in connection with complaints that the Muslim cleric abused boys.
Three boys were in the latest group interviewed and were found in Berbice. A medical examination yesterday showed that two of them appeared to have been abused, the source said.
This newspaper understands that two of the children who are all under the age of 11 told investigators that they were interfered with while the other denied.
This newspaper was told that checks are being made to determine when the children who are not related were moved to Berbice and why.
The source said that the story is becoming “sickening” and questioned why the man who was placed on bail is still walking the streets.
There are also concerns that as the investigation deepens the man will go into hiding. As a condition of bail he is required to visit the police station every day at 9 am and he visited yesterday at the stipulated time.
Meanwhile when Stabroek News contacted Crime Chief Seelall Persaud he said that investigations into the matter are ongoing and he was also asked about various aspects of the probe, including how many boys have come forward so far and why no charges have been laid.
Persaud stressed that the press will be advised at the appropriate time of the next step. He earlier yesterday told Stabroek News that on Monday two boys had come forward in the company of officials from the Ministry of Human Services. Medical examinations confirmed that one was sexually assaulted. The other child had from the beginning denied that he was interfered with.
Meanwhile, Red Thread held a protest outside the Ministry of Human Services yesterday. According to Karen De Souza, a leading member of the NGO, the purpose of the exercise was to question the way the matter is being handled since there appeared to be a lack of concern for the safety and wellbeing of the affected children.
She noted that the Sexual Offences Act required the court to take several things into consideration pertaining to the safety of the children. The man who is attached to the Turkeyen Masjid and employed by the CIOG was last week accused of sexually molesting four boys, aged 4 to 10, and after being arrested was released on station bail.
Several days later two more boys were spoken to. A source close to the Child Protection Agency (CPA) told Stabroek News on Monday that the first four are still in the care of the agency. It was based on investigations by the CPA that the other boys were located.
The second set of boys ages 11 and 10 underwent a medical examination on Monday and there is evidence that the younger one was sexually molested, the source said. During questioning the elder child said that he was only hugged and fondled by the man but was never sexually assaulted.
Statements have already been taken from all the children, this newspaper was told. Based on what has been gathered so far, the scholar held lessons at the Turkeyen Masjid with a number of boys and it is alleged that it was there that the incidents took place.
The source said that the first four children are “doing fairly alright but it is hard” pointing out that the boys’ lives have been scarred.
The source questioned why the suspect was still a free man, pointing out that the matter did not need the advice or attention of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
“The evidence is very blatant. It is wrong to have him out there when the investigation is still going on,” the source stressed.
De Souza in an invited comment on Monday said that although the new law speaks about conditions under which police can grant bail in these circumstances, children are still coming forward, pointing out that the police are stuck between the old act and the new one. She added that the law speaks clearly about the interference with children and witnesses.
She told Stabroek News that enough is not being done to secure the wellbeing of children who have been sexually abused. “Notwithstanding all the work taking place we still have pockets in the country that are unaware of the limited protection and how they should act,” she said. The social activist opined that a lot more work needs to be done in this area.
