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Perth mother fights for her two children |
Grandparents kidnapped boy and girl, woman claims.
A PERTH mother is fighting to get back her children after their grandparents allegedly kidnapped them in Malaysia.
Jane Day, 33, of Wilson, also fears that the couple - her parents - are
about to help the children's father, a Hong Kong citizen, take them to
China, where she would have little chance of finding them. Yesterday
she pleaded for help in her desperate bid to bring home Alison, 3, and
Justin, 4, Chan - Perth-born Australian citizens.
Her nightmare began in May, when the children and Mrs Day were visting
her parents, Peter Chin and Christina Woo, on Labuan Island, off
Sarawak.
At that time, Mrs Day was seperated from the children's father, Hong
Kong resident Alan Kwong Lun Chan, and had started a relationship with
Geoffrey Day, a Perth nursing assistant whom she married in December.
Mrs Day said her mother became furious when told of her new,
inter-racial relationship with Mr Day. "She demanded that i break it
off," Mrs Day said.
"My parents refused to give back my children's passports (kept in a
safety box), discussions with my family became heated, culminating in
my parents assulting me physically and throwing me out of my house."
Fearing for her own safety, Mrs Day returned to Perth reluctantly in
May. The couple flew to Malaysia at the weekend in a last ditch bid to
get the children.
For the first time in nearly a year, Mrs Day saw Alison and Justin at their school on Monday.
But her plan to take them straight to a plane - and eventually out of
Malaysia - was foiled when school staff called Mr Chin and he took the
children home.
Mrs Day said her father, a wealthy businessman, was well known in
Labuan. She understands he has paid a bond to extend the children's
stay in Malaysia. Now the Days are pleading for help in their long and
expensive battle. They say they do not know where to turn.
Mrs Day said she also hoped going public might help other parents avoid the same plight.
"It's breaking me into pieces," she said. The Federal Government
estimates that 150 Australian children were involved in abductions
either to or from Australia in 1999.
"That's 300 heartbroken parents," Mr Day said. An Australian Department
of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokeswoman said the department was aware
of the case and looking into it.
The Malaysian High Commission in Canberra said it had no comment.
In July 1992, Malaysian prince Raja Kamarul Bahrin Shah abducted his two children while on an access visit in Melbourne.
Their mother, Jacqueline Gillespie, unsuccessfully fought for their return.
SOURCE: The West Australian newspaper
April 4 2001
By Julie Butler
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