Child custody case drags on
Compromise formula is ready
Ayla Marisse G Ginete
Contributor
The two-year-old child custody case filed by Filipina mother Lecita Gabucay Flores has again been postponed. The next hearing will be held on November 29.
The fate of the case for the custody of her daughter Sarah Abdulla Mohammed Mattar now hangs in the balance.
Flores had hoped the courts would reach a verdict on the October 8 hearing of the case that included approval for some of the provisions that her lawyer and embassy officials had drawn up to meet a compromise for Sarah.
It turned out to be disappointing for Flores as she was told the case was declared postponed yet again, due to her late arrival. “We had earlier waited for four hours at the previous hearing only to be told it was postponed to October 8. This time the hearing was held too early. What am I to do but wait?” she asked.
Child custody case drags on
Compromise formula is ready
Ayla Marisse G Ginete
Contributor
The two-year-old child custody case filed by Filipina mother Lecita Gabucay Flores has again been postponed. The next hearing will be held on November 29.
The fate of the case for the custody of her daughter Sarah Abdulla Mohammed Mattar now hangs in the balance.
Flores had hoped the courts would reach a verdict on the October 8 hearing of the case that included approval for some of the provisions that her lawyer and embassy officials had drawn up to meet a compromise for Sarah.
It turned out to be disappointing for Flores as she was told the case was declared postponed yet again, due to her late arrival. “We had earlier waited for four hours at the previous hearing only to be told it was postponed to October 8. This time the hearing was held too early. What am I to do but wait?” she asked.
Consul-General Jose Burgos still remains optimistic. “It’s one of those days when the world seems to be against you. But Lucy has fought this ordeal too long. But it’s not the end. Her case will pull through. She has to remain patient so the compromises will be met. ”
Flores’ side has drawn up a list of provisions for a compromise in the case. They include the provision of a house to be rented for Lucy, support amounting to BD100, and expenses incurred for the electricity and water at the accommodation. Her husband, Waheed Abdulla Mattar, is to provide her with a visa and resident permit plus all the costs for renewal in the interval.
In turn, Flores is to remain in Bahrain and will not be allowed to take the child out of the country without written permission of the opposite party. She is to live in an apartment provided for her, just with her daughter, and in case she needs to leave, Sarah is to be left with her aunts, Fatima and Amal Abdulla Mattar. The aunts also need a written consent of Flores to take the child out of the country.
A monthly sustenance is also expected from the father, for further expenses for the child’s consumables.
By agreeing to all of those terms, this serves as a solution to both parties’ conflict and quarrel. This also rids the complaints at court or at the police stations in Bahrain.
The Bahrain Human Rights Society has expressed concern over the case and suggested that an independent legal body must be assigned to this case to investigate. They identify this case as a direct violation of human rights holding belief that a mother should never be separated from her child.
Flores remains apprehensive by the recent developments. “It seems like we are constantly at the wrong place at the wrong time. All we can do now is wait.”
Article from: Bahrain Tribune Newspaper- www.BahrainTribune.com