Andries director denies reports of sexual abuse in his camp
Valeriu Cohaniuc, the director of the summer camp Andries in Orhei, continues to maintain that the incident a couple of days ago in the camp was just a game, and by no means a case of sexual abuse. However Child's Ombudswoman Tamara Plamadeala has got a different opinion after talking with the parents of one of the two children that were reportedly abused by an older boy.
“I will offer legal assistance and help the parents initiate a legal action to demand damage from the administration of the camp”, Tamara Plamadeala told Info-Prim Neo.
The youngest of the boys, 7, is now undergoing psychological treatment. The medical report will also be useful in initiating the legal action, added the ombudswoman. She thinks that both the administration of the camp and the educator, who left the children unattended, are to blame for what happened.
The mother of the 7-year-old boy confirmed the administration of the camp had attempted to buy its way out of the incident by offering a free ticket for another vacation at that or any other camp.
The camp's director, for his part, says the parents are overreacting and nothing unusual has happened. “Nothing bad has happened. It was just the kids' fantasies. And all this fuss is just damaging the reputation of the camp and of that family”, Valeriu Cohaniuc told Info-Prim Neo.
Several days ago the parents of two children, 7 and 8, reported their kids had been sexually abused by a 10-year-old boy. The latter's family took him home without giving any comment. The administration of the camp said the children were just playing a game called Batman.
According to the Center for Child Abuse Prevention, the case at the Orhei camp is not singular. Last year there were 5 complaints of this kind, and all of them eventually proved true.
Tomorrow Ombudswoman Plamadeala is to meet with the parents of the 8-year-old boy.