Arabic version: استقالة رئيس جمعية البوذيين الكارين في ملبورن بسبب ماضيه المتعلق بالجرائم ضد الأطفال
San Maung Saw Wah has resigned as president of the Melbourne Karen Buddhist Association following the revelation of his criminal history. According to ABC News, the association confirmed his resignation in a letter to members, stating that it would review its child safety protocols.
The resignation comes four days after the ABC inquired about Saw Wah’s past, which includes a conviction in 2015 for sexually assaulting a child in 2009 while he was president of the Australian Karen Dance Association. The association has not clarified if it was aware of his criminal record when appointing him or if it learned of it later.
The Commission for Children and Young People (CCYP) previously indicated that the MKBA was “likely exempt” from the requirement of a Working With Children Check (WWCC), a finding that has been disputed by concerned members. They highlighted that children frequently attend events organized by the MKBA, including a youth camp attended by about 70 young people in 2022, where Saw Wah was present.
In a letter to members, the MKBA emphasized the importance of child safety and acknowledged the serious nature of past convictions related to child abuse. They expressed a commitment to improving their child safety standards and collaborating with authorities.
The Victorian government has refrained from commenting, directing inquiries to the independent regulator, while the Social Services Regulator has begun investigating whether the MKBA complies with child safety standards. The MKBA anticipates completing its internal review by July 30.
