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Probe into why 10-year-old child was sent to court for stealing a toy
View(s):The case of a 10-year-old child who was referred to a probation home following accusations of house-breaking and theft will be taken up at the Nochchiyagama Magistrates Court on Tuesday (June 18). The child was referred to a probation house after his mother and uncle refused to take care of him.
A complaint was made at the Rajanganaya police by a resident of the area which stated that the child had stolen a toy gun from the house. “The police were compelled to produce the child before the courts without referring him to a mediation board as the offence committed by him was serious,” said the DIG of Anuradhapura, R. P. Pathmasiri.
He said that the child was involved in previous illegal acts and even his guardians had refused to take responsibility for him.
Police spokesman, G.M.H.B. Siriwardena said that the child had stolen the toy after climbing into the house through a window that he had broken with a stone.
The child was charged with entering a house in an illegal manner, breaking into houses, and theft. When he was taken to court, lawyer Buddhika Bandara volunteered to appear on behalf of the child without payment. After hearing that the child had stolen a toy gun to play with, the lawyer also gave the boy Rs 1000 to buy any toy he liked.
When Mr. Bandara advised the mother and uncle of the child to take care of the child and stop him from committing such a deed again, the uncle said that even though he could look after the child the mother would not hand the child over as she took him along with her to beg for money.
There have been questions from the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) and Women and Child Bureau over the referral of the child to the courts. “I am very disappointed about the incident and how the officials decided to deal with the issue. The child should have been referred to a mediation board first because he is just a child,” said the NCPA Chairperson, Anoma Dissanayake.
She said even the owner of the house from which the toy was stolen should have been more compassionate as children learn through love and respect.
“Not only the Child Protection Authority, but government officials and society in general should also be more responsible and sensitive towards a child. The owner of this house should have spoken with the child and advised him against such acts,” she said.
Ms. Anoma said that she had written to the Inspector General of the Police regarding the matter.
A petition presented to court earlier this year argues that children should not be referred to the courts if they stole possessions worth less than Rs 5000. It was formulated after a 13-year-old girl from Horana stole coconuts in the hope of making money to satisfy school authorities for a fund-raising effort.
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