Parents warned against taking children to Court

By Matai'a Lanuola Tusani T - Ah Tong 09 December 2019, 11:00PM

Police have warned parents of children who were outside the Courts in Mulinu'u on Monday morning for taking their children to the area despite a ban on children under 19 being at the premises. 

More than 10 children under the age of 10 were still seen outside Courts waiting to see relatives who had been detained in custody. 

A female Officer was seen instructing parents to take their children home. 

She warned parents that failure to do so and, if they continue to bring their children to Courts, Police will not hesitate to lock them up for defying State of Emergency orders. 

The Disaster Advisory Committee (D.A.C.) issued a reminder yesterday to members of the public in relation to the orders of the state of emergency that still stand and are to be adhered for the duration of the emergency period, which lasts for one month. 

“There have been numerous reports of children being seen in public gatherings, therefore, this serves as a reminder of the importance of following the Orders of the State of Emergency which have been established to help control the outbreak,” reads the reminder from the D.A.C. 

“All organised public gatherings must not include the presence of children up to the age of 19; and that unless a child requires medical attention or assistance, a child up to the age of 19 is prohibited from entering any medical facility.”

The Ministry of Justice Courts and Administration moved to ban children under the age 19 from Mulinu’u Courts and its carpark area some two weeks ago.

The Ministry had also asked members of the public not to attend Court matters if they are not involved as they will not be allowed during the proceedings. 

The Youth Court and Family Violence Court, which mainly deals with under-age people and family relatives, remains cancelled until further notice. 

A notice outside Courts states that “under no circumstances are any persons under 19 years of age to be permitted onto the Courtroom premises or in the Courtroom vicinity including the car park areas”. 

“These are all areas under the control of the Ministry of Justice Courts and Administration.”

According to the notice. media access to all Courts is not affected, unless the Court, for a particular case, orders otherwise or the media member is under 19 years of age. 

By Matai'a Lanuola Tusani T - Ah Tong 09 December 2019, 11:00PM

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