Children found tortured, abused

HCM CITY — Four homeless children were admitted to the HCM City Social Sponsor Centre after being tortured and abused.

Two children had broken arms and had sustained multiple injuries on their faces and bodies. The children, aged 4, 5, 6 and 13, were discovered living on Hung Vuong Street in District 5 in HCM City. Two of the children are being treated at Children No1 Hospital.

According to the children's testimony, they were raised in a children's home in Dong Nai Province in Bien Hoa City. They ran away from the home after being abused.

The children were beaten with sticks and chains, tied up and held underwater. They were also required to do housework on an empty stomach.

Chairman of Dong Nai Province's Children's Home Nguyen Thanh Hien contacted the HCM City Social Sponsor Centre on Tuesday to retrieve the children, but her request was denied.

Representatives from the centre said the municipal Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs would conduct an investigation with the police.

Dong Nai Province's Children's Home was established in 1998 by the provincial Youth Union to help street children reintegrate into society. — VNS