KUCHING: The children of a Sarawakian couple who died of electrocution in Cameron Highlands are expected to head back to the state on Tuesday.
Women, Childhood and Community Well-being Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah said the Samarahan Division Social Welfare Office here will manage the guardianship of the three children including providing other necessary assistance.
“Based on preliminary information, the three children will be brought back to Sarawak by their next of kin on Tuesday (Mar 15) along with the remains of their parents.
“The Sarawak Social Welfare Department is also in contact with the Pahang Social Welfare Department on assisting in bringing back the remains of the two deceased and their children through the Samarahan Division Social Welfare Office and Rumah Sarawak in Kuala Lumpur,” she told New Sarawak Tribune when contacted on Saturday (Mar 12).
She said when they arrive in Sarawak on Mar 15, the Samarahan Division Social Welfare Office will take the case of the three siblings to the court here to obtain a custody order for their uncle.
“Apart from that, a Child Assistance amounting to RM550 a month will be given for the three children,” she said.
Fatimah added that their guardian named Robert will bring the three children back to Sarawak and that for now, they are still being looked after by their aunty who came from Penang.
“Meanwhile, it is also understood that a temporary custody order has been filed for the children’s aunty after discussions were made with the Magistrate on Saturday (Mar 12),” she said.
She mentioned that the post-mortem of the couple would only be done on Monday.
The victim’s children are 10-year-old Elisa Olivia Damian, eight-year-old Joseph Rayyan Damian and one-and-a-five-month-old Magdalena Damian.
On Thursday, Bernama reported that the victims were found dead in a bathroom of flat in Taman Tringkap, Brinchang in Cameron Highlands, and preliminary investigation found burn marks on the palm of the woman, who is believed to have been electrocuted when she went to help husband, who was showering using the water heater.
The victims are Damian Senin, 46, from Kampung Daha Kisau, Serian and his wife Ronwina Mambai, 35, from Kampung Ruan Lubang Tiung, Simunjan. Their bodies have been taken to the Sultanah Hajjah Kalsom Hospital Tanah Rata for post mortem.
