The Haifa District Attorney's Office (Criminal) filed an indictment this morning in the city district court against Sarit Ben Hamo (49), a principal and caregiver at a kindergarten in Kiryat Ata, for abusing and assaulting minors.
According to the indictment, filed by attorney Anan Ganem, Ben Hamo worked between the years 2020-2022, as a kindergarten principal and caregiver alongside other assistants. The kindergarten designated for children up to the age of three, was owned by her son.
During the period relevant to the indictment, his brother-in-law attacked about 14 toddlers.
"As part of her work, the defendant used to intimidate the toddlers, use physical and mental violence against them, and take harsh disciplinary measures against the toddlers that included, among other things, the use of violence in cases where the defendant thought the toddlers behaved improperly," it said.
According to the indictment, "The children were required, among other things, to sit for long consecutive minutes in a child seat called by the defendant a thinking chair. While sitting in it, the toddlers were required to do nothing. In many cases, while the toddlers tried to get off the chair and play, the defendant approached them. And violently returned them to the chair. "
In addition, the defendant used to feed the toddlers tightly and caused them pain when she pushed them heaping teaspoons of food into their mouths continuously and non-stop, sometimes when she held their head or face and pushed the food for them by force.
According to the indictment, the defendant, as part of her work, used to clean the toddlers' faces after they finished eating, "holding her head and her other hand tightly cleaning their faces with a napkin, causing them pain. The defendant violently lifted the toddlers, shook them and dropped them. "On the floor. The defendant used to hit the toddlers with their hands and feet. In addition, the defendant pushed the toddlers hard and knocked them down."
It is further noted that in many cases the defendant used to pinch the toddlers with their hands, feet and abdomen and slap them in the face.
And even the defendant kicked one of the toddlers in the buttocks and made him cry.
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