Home officials to be questioned

The four missing girls were found on Saturday night and Sunday. They were taken to the Portof- Spain General Hospital where they were medically examined by a District Medical Officer.

A 30-year-old man from Phase 5 in Beetham in an area known as Hell Yard, who was detained on Saturday night on suspicion of harbouring two of the girls, remains in custody.

On Saturday at 11.45 pm, officers of the Inter Agency Task Force, acting on information, went to a house in Hell Yard where they found the two girls.

The girls were taken away by female police officers while other officers detained the 30-year-old man who is said to be the owner of the house.

Under interrogation, the rescued girls gave information to police which led to the recovery of the other two teens at a house in Belmont and another in Sangre Grande.

After being medically examined, the four were returned to the Home.

Officers from the Child Protection Unit were expected to visit the Home yesterday to continue interrogation of the four. Police have been told that the four girls were able to leave the Home undetected until hours later, with the help of officials working at the Home.

Newsday was told that since the girls’ return and based on advice given by the police, certain new policies have been instituted at the Home to make it more difficult for the occupants who are all wards of the State, to run away.

At the end of investigations by the police, the teens may face a charge of escaping lawful custody.

The four teens along with a fifth, escaped from the Home last Wednesday and were believed to be heading towards Sangre Grande.

One of the five was found and has since been charged with escaping lawful custody.