I would like to tell you the story of Sandor and Gabriella Bako. They came to America in November, 1990 , from Transylvania, which is Romanian territory today. They asked for and were granted political assylm. Being given employment in Atlanta, they began to enjoy the "American Dream." They brought 2 daughters with them, one was 4 years old, the other 4 months old. Mr. and Mrs. Bako are now American citizens, their children are not, one was born in Transylvania, the other in France.
In 1998, Sandor was offered employment in Fremont, Ohio. They purchased a lovely home, the children were settling in to a new school and new friends.
On Memorial day, of 1999, they came to our home, along with other friends to celebrate the holiday, and 2 birthdays. Before coming over Sandor took some pictures of his 12 year old daughter, she had come from the shower, nude and since she would be turning 13 in another month he thought it would make a nice remberance of herself as a child. The pictures were not lewd or suggestive in any way.
Being european, nudity is not considered ugly or shamfull in the privacy of their own home. Later, he finished the roll at the party, taking photos of many friends, children, birthday cakes, presents, etc.
Several weeks later, on Sat, June 19th,while shopping, Sandor dropped the roll off at the one hour photo booth at Walmart. The film clerk, after printing the pictures called the police who came, looked at the photos, and waited for him to return. The policeman also called another officer and they passed the photos to each other in the parking lot.
The officer talked to Mr. Bako when he came to pick up his photos. They told him he had done nothing wrong but they would like to talk to him and his wife at their home. Mr. Bako reuturned home, 1 1/2 hours later 4 police cars and one unmarked car came to their home. They had a representitive from the childrens services with them and told the family they were going to remove the 12 year old from the home.
Of course, she didn't want to go, didn't understand, and ran upstairs crying. An officer and the childrens services representitive told Mrs. Bako if she didn't tell the child to go and pack a bag they could arrest her and her husband. When she was packed they were told to call a relative or friend who would take the child as they hadn't made arrangements for anywhere to take her.
Since they have no relatives in America, the child called a personal friend of hers and they took her in. The police questioned Mr. and Mrs. Bako for some time, then left. On Monday, June 21st, at 4:00 pm they again returned and removed the 9 year old daughter from the home.
At 11:00 pm, on that same Monday night, an officer brought them papers telling them to appear at the Chrildrens services office, the next day, Tuesday, at 8:30 am and for a hearing at 1:00 pm to decide the future of the children, and bring leagal representation.
I won't go into the hearing, just to say that the children were placed in foster care, Mr. Bako was not allowed to see them. Only Mrs. Bako could have supervied visits and only for 1 hour a week. Also, she nor the children were allowed to speak in Hungarian, their native language, the one they speak at home.
Neither child spoke english until they went to school. She asked to say a prayer with the children, in Hungarian, and was refused. Gabriella learned English after moving to America 9 years ago but she still has trouble understanding sometimes and making her feelings known in the proper tense.
The day after the hearing the police came to their home with a warrent and removed Mr. Bakos home computer. Several days later, their lawyer informed them that the local athoritires were going to try to prosecute Mr. Bako for child pornogrophy, it would further someones political career to have this type of case made very public, and he could spend from 2 to 10 years in jail if he was convicted.
Mr. and Mrs. Bako became frightened at the thought of imprisonment, or the thought ot their children being taken from them forever so they fled, trying to decide what to do. Since they had both come from communist countries, and Mr. Bako had been imprisioned 2 times for his political beliefs they were scared and unsure of what to do.
This was supposed to be a "FREE" country and so far no one would or could help them with the slow court process. For the sake of the children they decided that Mr. Bako would leave, there by freeing Gabriella to have her children since, if Mr. Bako was no longer in their lives there would be no reason for her not to have her children back.
She returned to town, called her Lawyer and tried to see her children as the court had ordered visits for her. Going to childrens services on Monday, July 12, she was refused the right to see her children and was told if she wanted to see them then she could bring her lawyer with her the next time.
Another court hearing was scheduled for July 19, again the children were not returned to her but at least the judge forced childrens services to allow her to see the children without being questioned or intimadated in any way.
On July 20, Gabriella received a notice from the childrens services that they had removed her children on July 2, from one foster home to another one, and if she wanted to disagree with their decision she had to inform them within 10 days. The letter was postmarked on July 19, after court.
When Gabriella finally got to see her children on July 23, they told her that where they were was not air conditioned, dirty, 4 other children in the family, out in the country, no toys, no tv, no cokes, no caffiene, the family was Mormon, and they were forced to go to church with them.
The 9 year old had been sick but was refused by the foster family to be taken to a doctor. Since these children are not Morman it doesn't seem right that they should be forced to attend a church outside of their own religion.
They have to go to bed at 9pm, in a very hot house, and it isn't even dark yet. During the last court appearance several other private photographs were enlarged and passed around. These photographs were given freely to the police by the Bako's to show that taking pictures for their own private viewing was normal in their home.
Some were of Gabriella pregnant, nursing a baby, and she and the two girls nude after a swimming party. These photos were developed at Walmart, in Georgia, several years ago.
Now, when Gabriella appears in court, several police officers look her up and down and wink at her, it seems that everyone in town has been shown these "private photos".
The next court date was to be Aug. 6th but because the childrens services lawyer was going on vacation they postponed the date to Aug. 23.
On the court date of July 19, the childrens court appointed guardian was excused from court because he was on vacation and there was no one to speak for the children but the childrens services.
Gabriella's lawyer has hopes of getting the children back on the 23rd of Aug. but he said anything could happen. So far, no one has been able to speak for this family but their lawyer, and the judge is listening only to the childrens services saying how obscene, horrible, pornographic, abused, neglected these children are. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Since Sandor is missing, Gabriella has no money, she will lose their beautiful home, and the used van they recently purchased. Her name is not on their house mortgage or their van. She can't even sell these things to keep their credit rating or try to recoup some of their money.
She and the childrens cat have been staying with us. So far, no charges have been filed against Gabriella or Sandor but the childrens services lawyer keeps mentioning to the judge the "on going criminal investigation" leaving it open for him to assume the worst.
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