Kottayam: Joseph Mathew, 60, director of Aswasa Bhavan at Pampady, a rehabilitation centre for the children of prison inmates, was arrested on Thursday for sexually abusing a 12-year-old girl belonging to Idukki. Joseph had gone into hiding after the police registered a case under the Protection of Children from the Sexual Offences Act on the basis of the statement of the girl. The school authorities had informed the Childline about the matter after she revealed it to them. District police chief N. Ramachandran told DC that further charges will be added in the course of investigation.
The police had constituted a special team to trace Joseph and issued notices at various places, including airports. He was arrested from Kuttikanam while he was coming back from Pazhany. The police had conducted searches at his residence on Wednesday. The Kerala High Court had dismissed the anticipatory bail plea of Joseph earlier. The district Child Welfare Committee had transferred the 12 inmates of Aswasa Bhavan to another centre after the director absconded.
