Log book that could be evidence in case against charged Families SA carer has gone missing

A LOG book that could yield further evidence in the case against a carer accused of sexually abusing seven children in state care has gone missing. VOTE IN OUR POLL

A LOG book that could yield further evidence in the case against a carer accused of sexually abusing seven children in state care has gone missing.

Both Families SA and police on Wednesday declined to shed light on the development, but a source familiar with the investigation has revealed the log book cannot be located in the southern suburbs house in which the man, 32, worked until he was arrested in June.

The source said the charged man’s co-workers had been quizzed over the whereabouts of the log book by senior Families SA staffers, but have been unable to shed any light on its whereabouts.

The log book, which details every activity that occurs in the house over a 24-hour period, seven days a week, is understood to contain a complaint made by a toddler concerning the charged man.

“They (the carers) are told the log book is the most important thing in the house,’’ the source said.

“Every incident is logged, even a skun knee gets logged. The pages are numbered, everything goes in there. For one to go missing is most unusual because of their importance in the daily running of the house.’’

The source said they were aware an incident involving the charged man had been logged in the book. It allegedly involved an incident that one of the children in the house had complained about to another carer.

Police on Wednesday said it was “not appropriate that we make any comment’’ when asked if their investigation into the man had located all log books from the care house.

A Families SA spokesperson said: “As all matters in relation to the employment of the alleged offender are currently under police investigation it would be inappropriate to comment at this time.”

The development follows a revelation in The Advertiser on Tuesday that the mother of one of the seven children allegedly abused by the carer had reported her suspicions to Families SA in early 2012 — two years before he was charged by police.

The mother said she was told she was a “paranoid mother’’ when she raised concerns her child was being sexually abused at the time, but was last month offered an apology by Families SA for not adequately investigating her complaint.

Education and Child Development Minister Jennifer Rankine on Wednesday came under increasing pressure to explain why the public had not been informed of all incidents Families SA was aware of involving the man. She again said legal advice from the Crown Solicitor and police prevented her from revealing more details about the man’s history.

The Advertiser revealed on July 25 the man had been the subject of a complaint by co-workers that resulted in an internal investigation that cleared him to return to work with children. Police Commissioner Gary Burns confirmed this on August 5.

When asked about the latest revelation, Ms Rankine said: “You’re asking me to confirm a situation that I’m not prepared to confirm.”

“I’m not running to the Crown Solicitor every time someone runs a story in The Advertiser. “What is very clear from Crown, what is very clear from the police is that we cannot speak of things that go to this person’s character and to confirm situations as you are putting to me would absolutely do that.

“If there are to be statements made about this case the police commissioner (Gary Burns) made it very clear last week that it’s his investigation, he will determine what information is released and when.”

She also said she had not personally apologised to the mother, but would be willing to apologise to all the families involved in the case.

“I would be willing to personally apologise to all of the families and I have made it clear to the taskforce that is managing this that if and when any of the families want to meet with me I’m prepared to do that. I haven’t had any requests put to me at this point in time,” she said.

“I absolutely understand and would have expected that people who were visiting these families to impart this devastating news would offer an apology. It’s only the decent and right thing to do.”

Opposition leader Steven Marshall repeated his call for Ms Rankine to resign on Wednesday evening over her handling of the scandal.

“Minister Rankine has repeatedly refused to be open and honest with the people of South Australia regarding these deeply disturbing allegations,’’ he said.

“As consequence of the Minister’s failure to deal with the systemic failure in Families SA she has no option but to resign.’’