The father of a four-year-old boy who was allegedly discovered inside a “cage” at a workplace has come forward to defend his actions and share his side of the story.
The boy was spotted inside a makeshift park on the Stuart Highway in the Northern Territory by a contractor who reported the matter to authorities.
It was later learned that the boy stayed there from time to time while his father fixed cars, because he could not attend daycare due to his allergies.
Now the boy’s hard-working father, Martín Rasas, has explained his family’s situation and why he felt he had no choice but to take his son to work and keep him in the corral.
The father of a four-year-old boy who was allegedly discovered inside a “cage” at a workplace has come forward to defend his actions and share his side of the story.
Mr. Rasas, a Sudanese migrant, explained to the New Testament News who is a security guard at night and occasionally helps work on cars at his immigration sponsor, Ken Martin’s, business during the day.
The father explained that his wife works during the day as a pharmacist and that his son cannot go to daycare due to his allergy to fish and eggs.
“We tried to put him in daycare, but the centers wouldn’t accept him because of his allergies, so I was turned away several times.” “I’m the father who takes care of him,” Mr. Martin said.
“I worked for a few days in the yard fixing my car, I had my son there with me and I had his playpen right next to me and somehow, someone contacted the police.”
The contractor in question reported the “cage” on April 14 and the police have already confirmed that no crime had been committed; however, NT WorkSafe and Territory Families are investigating.
Mr. Martin has ended daycare with Mr. Rasas and is now helping him organize suitable daycare.
‘Martin had bought gymnastics mats, they were comfortable and he had lots of toys to play on. The boy was very safe, but from now on he will stop,” Mr Martin said.
Mr Martin and his wife Jenny sponsored Mr Rasas when he arrived in Australia as a refugee aged 16.
He previously described the protest to Sky News Australia as a “storm in a teacup” and rubbish claims that the 3.5 x 2.5m park was a “cage”.
“We have an industrial business,” he said. “If you have a child here, they should be safe.”
The businessman added that the situation was not a horror story of abuse or neglect, but rather an example of a working father trying to make ends meet.
A Territory Families spokeswoman said the agency was aware of the matter and is investigating.
“The safety of children is our top priority and we take any allegation of child harm seriously,” he said.
Under mandatory reporting rules in the Northern Territory, a person must report concerns if they believe “a child is being, or has been, harmed or abused”.
“This includes the police, who can report suspected harm to our department,” the spokeswoman said.
Darwin businessman Ken Martin described the protest as a “storm in a teacup” and denied claims the 3.5m x 2.5m park was a “cage”.
“We work with children, families, communities, police and relevant agencies to assess and respond to any reports of suspected harm to children.”
A witness, who asked not to be identified, said the boy was in the secured area to prevent him from “running around the workplace.”
“Since three-year-olds climb in parks all the time… it’s so they don’t wander,” they said. New Testament News.
