HUIXIAN

ONE supervisor has been sacked and a police report has been filed against the home.

In a written reply to our queries, the home said in a statement that it 'viewed the allegations against the accused officer very seriously'.

'An immediate action was taken by making an internal investigation.


'The investigation has since been completed and the services of the officer involved have been terminated,' it said.

The home, which is affiliated to the National Council of Social Service, has instructed its staff to adhere to standard operating procedures on discipline.

It has also briefed its residents on how they can convey their grievances to help the home monitor their welfare effectively.

When we asked the home which supervisor was sacked, it said it was inappropriate to respond to further queries because the matter was under police investigation.

A charity organisation acts as the parent body of the home.

A management committee responsible to the charity looks after it. Committee members are volunteers.

The home's daily operations are administered by full-time staff.

In a separate statement, a spokesman for the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS) said that it has filed a police report against the home.

Its spokesman wrote: 'MCYS takes a very serious view of such incidents.

'MCYS is working closely with the home's management committee to ensure that the well-being of the residents is taken care of and to strengthen the home's disciplinary system.

'We have warned them to comply with the Children and Young Persons Act, and the Standards of Care for Children and Young Persons Homes.

'A police report has been filed, and appropriate actions would be taken thereafter.'

NOT FIRST INCIDENT

This is not the first time that alleged abuse in the home has come to light. Last May, The New Paper reported how a boy was punched so hard that he suffered bruises and had to be hospitalised for a week.

The boy almost fainted after he was punished in the middle of the night.

The home's management committee chairman confirmed the incident but declined comment pending police investigations.

Months earlier, in October 2005, a charity organisation which funds the same home was probed for financial irregularities.

They were helping police in investigations involving an external aid scheme for orphans not staying in the homes.

Some of the 743 non-residential orphans on cash disbursements scheme - which hands out money ranging from $50 to $100 monthly - failed to receive them at least once between January to May 2004.

A staff member said the missing amount could be in the thousands.