Church confirms it will release family’s donations
ARVIND KUMAR
Money collected for a Waikato family mysteriously struck down by poisoning will now be put into a bank trust account under the victims’ children’s names for their education.
Shibu Kochummen, 35, his wife Subi Babu, 33, and his mother Alekutty Daniel, 62, were found in a vegetative state on the floor of their Putaruru home in November 2017, shortly after eating a wild boar curry. The couple’s two daughters, aged seven, and one, did not eat the wild boar meal.
The St Thomas Marthoma Church of New Zealand had since raised $102,764 for three family members struck down by a severe illness.
But only $42,520 had been released to the family. A Givealittle fund set up by the Hamilton Marthoma Church raised $30,000 for the trio. Another $70,000 was donated to the church for the family. Collections stopped in December last year.
Responding to a Stuff report earlier this week that the family was still waiting for the money, a church spokesman, Naveen Eapen, said today that it had never been the intention of the church to use any of the money collected for the stricken family.
‘‘We just wanted to make sure the rest of the money was either transferred to a qualifying charity or the family, for the kids,’’ Eapen told Radio Tarana.
‘‘The decision was made that the money will be put in kids’ names as a term deposit.
‘‘We are working with the banks to ensure we can open a trust account in the kids’ names, and the money to be put in as a term deposit so they can benefit from it as well,’’ Eapen said.
Eapen said lots of funds came in after the initial appeal, more than what was required.
‘‘ACC was willing to cover the costs, so the circumstances changed obviously, so we needed to make some decisions on what to do with the money.
Family spokesman Joji Varghese told Stuff yesterday that they had repeatedly requested the New Zealand church vicar release the remaining $60,224, but to no avail.
People had donated money understanding it was for the family.
When the family decided to go to India, where their two children were being looked after by relatives earlier this year, $42,000 was released.
‘‘We had to beg and plead the vicar to release the funds,’’ Varghese said.
‘‘Unidentified poisoning’’ was the final diagnosis.
ACC covered medical costs for Kochummen and Babu. But Daniel, who isn’t a New Zealand citizen, wasn’t covered.
The after effects of the poisoning meant Kochummen and Babu weren’t able to return to work until recently.
Varghese said Kochummen, a mechanic, was now working at least three days a week, while his wife, Babu, a nurse, works two days a week.