Kindergarten face charges over badly bitten toddler

THE director of a private Nicosia kindergarten and one of its minders are to face criminal negligence charges after a 22-month-old child in their care suffered numerous bites all over her body.

The case emerged on June 8, when police received a complaint from the mother that her toddler daughter had suffered physical harm whilst in the care of the kindergarten.

It appears that the little girl was repeatedly bitten by presumably another child, without any of the individuals responsible for her care taking any notice of the incident.

The mother was called to the kindergarten to collect her on the day of the complaint because, as the school staff claimed, a rash had appeared over her body. However, as soon as the concerned mother collected the child she realised that the conspicuous red marks were not a rash, but bites.

She proceeded to take her daughter to her pediatrician, who confirmed her suspicions. The mother then took the toddler to the Nicosia General Hospital, where a pathologist confirmed that she had suffered nine bites on various parts of her body. According to the examiner’s findings, the size of the bites suggest that the she was bitten by another infant.

The mother is insisting that the child was unharmed before she went to school. The kindergarten had denied that the bites happened on school grounds.

According to police spokesman Michalis Katsounotos, following investigations into the case by the police, in cooperation with the Labour Ministry and a Social Welfare officer, it has been concluded that legal action should be taken against the director of the kindergarten and the minder. The two will be summoned to court and will face charges of negligence and failure to prevent harm to a person under their care.

The school declined to comment on the matter.

 

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