Following a trial in the New Amsterdam Magistrate Court before Magistrate Alex Moore, a mother of thirteen, from the East Bank of Berbice was found guilty of three counts of child neglect, last week Monday.
Venus Lalloo, also known as ‘Anita’, 35, of Lot 19, Edinburgh Village, East Bank Berbice, had pleaded not guilty to all three charges, which alleged that she willfully contributed to her children, ages five, seven and ten, being in the need of protective intervention.
The court ruled that Lalloo was guilty of the charges. The unrepresented woman was fine $100,000, on each charge, a total of $300,000.
Initially, Lalloo was unable to raise the total sum and opted to serve the alternative sentence, which is six months imprisonment.
According to information gathered, Lalloo had commenced serving her sentence when her fine was paid in full last Thursday. A source at the court revealed that a government official had paid the woman’s fine, which resulted in her being released.
Lalloo at her sentencing had told the court that four of her children resided with her, one of them being a three-month old baby. According to a relative of Lalloo, she was taking care of the baby, whilst the other three children were in foster care.
The mother of thirteen was arrested for neglect, after three of her children were discovered spending the night out of their home, in the Edinburgh Village. The three girls were taken to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital and treated, after which they were placed in foster care, and an investigation was launched.
Lalloo was a domestic worker, resided with her four children and a male partner at Sawmill Street, Edinburgh Village.
