A 35-YEAR-OLD mother of 13 children was slapped with three counts of child neglect following her appearance before Magistrate Alex Moore at the Sisters Court, East Bank Berbice on Tuesday.

The unrepresented defendant pleaded  not guilty to the separate charges which alleged that on July 19, at Edinburgh Village, East Bank Berbice, she  wilfully contributed to her children, aged 7, 5 and 10 respectively, being in need of protective intervention and omitted to do so, thereby causing harm to the respective children.

This newspaper had reported that the three sisters were found sleeping on the seawalls by welfare officials last week after they were reportedly beaten and thrown out of the house by their step-father. The sisters also claimed that they were raped multiple times by the step-father.

The defendant told the court that she is employed as a domestic and is the mother of 13 children, four of whom live with her, including a three-month-old baby, who is being breastfed.

Police Inspector Phillip Sherrif, prosecuting, objected to pre-trial liberty, highlighting the nature and seriousness of the offence. He informed the court that the three sisters remain hospitalized, while he argued that the mother should have protected her children at all times.

However, the magistrate overruled his objection and noted that he did not find grounds for an objection to granting bail. Consequently, the mother was ordered to pay $50,000 bail on each count, totalling $150,000. She is expected to return to court on August 16 for report.

The plight of the three children became public interest after they were found neglected at Edinburgh Village. Subsequently, they were taken to the New Amsterdam Hospital where they are being examined and treated.

Inspector Sherrif informed the court that a file has been sent to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, where legal advice is being sought. Consequently, another person is expected to be charged.