By Hajaratu Kalokoh
The owner of a Day Care & Preparatory School in Freetown could face charges of child cruelty after she was accused of assaulting a 2-year old boy.
Mrs Berther Thompson, who owns Bernis Day Care & Preparatory School located at 48 Main Penisular Road, Goderich, allegedly assaulted the infant as punishment for biting another child in his class. The incident reportedly occurred on 14 October.
Police say medical report from the Lumley Health Centre confirms that the child was indeed physically assaulted, living him with a swollen lip and bruises on his face and body.
Thomas Elba, Father of the victim, who reported the matter to the Police, told Politico that he was informed by his wife that his child was ill because of the injuries he sustained from the assault.
Explaining the circumstances surrounding the assault, Elba said that despite the child already receiving a punishment for biting his colleague, the proprietor went ahead to add some more punishment by physically assaulting him.
“My wife told me that the ‘Aunty’ in charge of the kids at day care called her to take our child to hospital because the owner of the school had beaten him. My wife went to the school and asked the owner what had occurred. She was told that my child had bitten a colleague on her hand. My child had been punished by the class teacher, but the proprietor was not satisfied as she took the laws in to her hands and physically abused my child with her bare hands,” Mr Elba narrated.
“His face and lips were swollen as there was blood from his noise,” he added.
According to Elba, the kid who was allegedly bitten by his son had no scar or evidence of such on her hand.
‘The owner is not showing any sign of remorse. I have realized that she is not capable to run a school and a day care because a proprietor should not be angry to that extent,’’ he said.
Politico contacted the proprietor and the class teacher for their responses, but they both refused to comment.
Police say they will send the case file to the Director of Public Prosecution for consideration once the investigation wraps up.
The state can bring against Mrs Thompson a charge for child cruelty.
‘The medical report shows that the child was physically abused. We have obtained statement from witnesses and the suspect. We will submit our report to DPP, and Legal & Justice Department for advice. May be from now to Monday, we would have completed the investigation,” Detective Mohamed Koroma told Politico.
He said they had heard rumours of physical abuse in the school by the proprietor but that this was the first time the police had received an official complaint.
“This is the first time I am receiving such report, but according to information, people say it has been her usual habit", Detective Koroma said.
Whiles the investigation continues, Elba said he was worried about his child’s health.
He added: “They have given me prescription, but my child is still complaining about his head repeatedly. I am terrified because he is a child and he won’t be able to explain how exactly he is feeling. This is not the right way to punish a child”.
© 2019 Politico Online
