THE SOCIAL Welfare Department (SWD) was aware for eight years that a girl was being kept naked and isolated in a tiny storage area for 17 years, yet never did anything about it, it emerged yesterday.
The shocking revelation was detailed in letter written by Justice Minister Loucas Louca in response to DISY MP Stella Kyriakidou.
Kyriakidou has listed a number of different testimonies by relatives and fellow villagers, who said they had repeatedly informed the Department on the girl’s case; but to no avail.
Louca said the material he had collected clearly indicated that the Department was fully aware of the case and had been since 2002.
In response yesterday, SWD head Toula Kouloumou denied the Department had received any such information, and there were no records to prove it.
She said when the matter came to light in March, she ordered an internal administrative investigation, “through which I was assured that in our archives, there is nothing recorded in reference to this case”.
The woman, whose name, age and personal details have been withheld for legal and personal reasons, is reported to have lived in the 2×2 metre handmade storage unit for 17 years, taking her from a young age to womanhood. On her insistence, she was always naked and the only person she allowed in was her mum, who regularly brought her food.
Labour Minister Sotiroula Charalambous has ordered an investigation into the matter.
The shocking story came to light in March this year.
In his letter, Louca said that according to the testimonies he had, the Welfare Department had on various occasions been informed about the case.
“The police also seem to have been aware, though the incident couldn’t be found on any records,” said Kyriakidou yesterday. “But there is legislation and the relevant state services should have taken action.”
According to Louca, the village’s community leader had notified Welfare about the case in 2005. An uncle of hers also informed the Department in 2006, but nothing happened as the Services said no action could be taken unless the girl’s parents gave their consent.
Louca also said the village priest had said that he had regularly visited the Welfare Department between 2002 and 2003, but to no avail. In 2004 the cleric visited the local police station to report the case and was told to inform Welfare. After another six months, the priest said he revisited the Department, but got no reaction.
“From the testimonies that were gathered, it emerged that various persons informed the Welfare Department at times about the girl’s enclosure,” said Louca’s letter. “However, they were all told that in order to act, (the services) needed the consent of both her parents, which it seems her mother didn’t want.”
He added: “Her father had unsuccessfully taken some actions, which all failed in view of his wife’s refusal.”
The letter added that there was no proof that the police had been aware of the case, as the statement made by the village priest had not been recorded at the specific station.
