Crèche owner allegedly gives children drugs to sleep

By Ilhaam Hoosain
13 December 2007

A Somerset West crèche owner has been arrested for apparently giving Valium to the children in her care.

According to police spokesperson Superintendent Billy Jones, Monica Helm and her employee Angeline Carolus were arrested and appeared in Somerset West magistrate's court on Wednesday.

The children — aged between six months and three years — were allegedly given Valium by the suspects so that they could sleep, reports the Cape Argus.

Helm and Carolus were released on bail of R1 000 each, on the charges of contravening legislation pertaining to dispensing medication.

After a mother reportedly laid a complaint, the case was opened by police attached to the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences unit in Bellville.

Monica's husband, Kallie Helm, on Thursday said that his wife, who has run the crèche for 24 years, was "in quite a state" and her arrest had come as "a hell of a shock". Kallie went on to say that Carolus worked as their domestic worker.

Helm accounted that since police had phoned the parents of the four children in his wife's care and told them about the allegations the home based crèche had closed.

"It's bad," Helm said and he would be seeking legal advice on how to contest the charges when the pair appear in court again next year.