Sex abuse scandal crèches criticised for staffing levels, organised sleepovers

Six of the seven day care centres, which formed the Het Hofnaaretje crèche group where paedophile Roberts Mikelsons worked, have been criticised by council inspectors, the NRC reports on Tuesday.

Mikelsons is accused of assaulting dozens of children in his care while working at two Amsterdam crèches and as a private babysitter.
The inspectors’ biggest concern was the shortage of staff, which meant group leaders were left alone with their charges for more than the maximum three hours allowed by law.
The inspectors recommended that Zuid borough council intervene, but it is not clear if any action was taken, the paper says.
The other crèche where Mikelsons worked, Jenno’s Knuffelparadijs, was also given warnings in the past about not having enough staff, the paper says.
Sleep overs
Meanwhile, the Telegraaf reports that Edwin Rotgans, the third man arrested in connection with the scandal, organised sleepovers for young children at the home of the Hofnaaretje director Albert Drent.
The claim was made by a parent at Monday night’s meeting for people worried their children may have come into contact with the group.
Rotgans, who also worked at Hofnaaretje daycare centres, was arrested on charges of sexual assault via the internet. Parents and female crèche leaders were not welcome at the sleepovers, the paper says.

More on this story:
Amsterdam child abuse case: number of victims may rise says mayor
Creche abuse: ‘police ignored earlier complaint’
Babysitter abused up to 50 young children in Amsterdam