A one-year-old girl allegedly taken overseas by her parents for a genital mutilation procedure remains in the care of the northern suburbs couple after an extensive investigation by the Department for Child Protection, a Perth court was told yesterday.
Defence lawyer Gerald Yin revealed details about the girl’s ongoing care when applying for a suppression order to prevent the child being identified.
Mr Yin said that given the nature of the charge against the girls’ parents, publication which could identify her would carry a stigma and have a serious negative effect.
Granting a suppression order which prohibits the publications of the name of the girl and both her parents, Magistrate Elizabeth Woods said that protecting the alleged victim was of the utmost importance.
The parents were charged after allegedly taking their daughter to Bali to undergo the female genital circumcision in August.
The charge, which is understood to be the first since the legislation was introduced in WA in 2004, carries a maximum penalty of 10 years jail.
The 44-year-old man and 42-year-old woman appeared in Joondalup Magistrate’s Court last week when the case was adjourned until December.