Pertapis child abuse pre-trial conferences set for June 15-16

SINGAPORE — The two Pertapis Children’s Home employees charged with child abuse will return to court on June 15 and 16 for pre-trial conferences, as one of them has yet to find a lawyer.

Dadiz Joanne Joy Coloma will approach the Philippines Embassy for help with hiring a lawyer, said Ms Miriam Chan, who interpreted for the Filipina at today’s (May 18) hearing.

Muhammad Abdul Gani, 26, who was the welfare officer and religious teacher of the home in Kovan at the time of his alleged offences, faces 10 counts of endangering the safety of the children under his care and causing them unnecessary pain — all the victims were aged under 11 then.

His alleged transgressions include slapping the children on the cheek and hitting them with a wooden cane. Other charges include acts such as kicking the chair that a nine-year-old girl was standing on, causing her to fall off; and putting a four-year-old boy inside a cupboard, which caused him “emotional injury”.

Coloma, 29, then the home’s social service assistant, faces one charge of sitting on the back of an 11-year-old girl for three minutes as the girl lay face-down on the floor. 

If found guilty of the charges against them, both Muhammad and Coloma could be jailed up to four years and/or fined up to S$4,000 on each charge.