London couple freed on bail

(Updated)

The 10-year old boy rescued last week after being held captive in a locked bedroom for nearly two years is adapting quickly to normal life. Meanwhile, his aunt and uncle who are charged with keeping him imprisoned, have been released from jail. The good news today is that the boy appears to be adjusting very well to his temporary home. And after almost two years locked up with no exposure to the outside world, he’s taking pleasure in simple things that a regular kid may take for granted.

Four days after being rescued from imprisonment in an east London home, the 10-year old boy who was once trapped among his own waste is learning to play video games and eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

The boy has been living with a foster family since Friday and the Children’s Aid Society says he’s settling in well. He’s made friends with another child in the home and is still eager to attend school for the first time.

Police say he came to Canada legally in 2010 and his aunt and uncle became his guardians. The family is reportedly from South Korea — a surprise to London’s closely knit Korean community.

Danny Choy is the President of the Canadian-Korean Association of London: “Our community is very family orientated people, so they usually look after kids very well. and this is totally shocked because that.”

The Canadian-Korean Association of London has offered support for the boy, including translation services and donations. Overwhelmed by this and other offers of help, the Children’s Aid Society has created a trust fund for his future.

The boy’s aunt and uncle — charged with forcible confinement and failure to provide the necessities of life — were released from jail late Friday evening on a promise to appear in court.

Constable Ken Stevens is with the London Police Service: “What had to be considered was their criminal past, their criminal record, the threat, the safety of the children involved.”

They are due in court July 10th.

As of Friday, police were still trying to contact the boy’s biological parents. Monday, they wouldn’t answer questions about how he ended up in his aunt and uncle’s custody or whether they were his legal guardians, saying those details are part of the ongoing investigation.