POLICE yesterday confirmed they were investigating a complaint by a teenage girl with special needs, who was reportedly raped by two schoolmates at a special-needs school.
“It is a delicate and serious matter, and the police are dealing with it as such,” police spokesman Michalis Katsounotos said yesterday.
The incident was brought to light by the 15-year-old girl’s mother, who not only revealed her daughter had been indecently assaulted twice over the past year at school, but that at least another 11 complaints had also been made to the police during the same period.
At the mother’s request, Phileleftheros newspaper yesterday published the distressful conversation between the reporter and the victim’s mum.
It also presented confirmation of her claims, in the form of the pathologist who examined the 15-year-old and diagnosed she had been sexually assaulted and her hymen had been broken.
The pathologist, who wasn’t named, in a bid to protect the school’s name and the girl’s identity, also confirmed that he had examined 11 similar complaints over the past year; from the same school.
“I don’t know how to deal with what’s happened to my daughter,” the girls’ mother told the newspaper. “Fortunately her condition prevents her from really understanding what happened to her, even though I have been supporting her with a psychologist ever since the first time it happened [almost a year ago]. But on the other hand, the fact that she doesn’t understand is not a good thing, as it means she cannot protect herself at school and if those who are being paid to care for her aren’t doing so. Then she will be in constant danger of molestation and rape.”
The police yesterday announced they were investigating a case of indecent assault against a 15-year-old with special needs, who attends a school for children with special needs, following a complaint by her mother.
Katsounotos said two teenage boys aged 17 and 18 were believed to be responsible for the attack, which happened in June. They too have special needs.
“The 15-year-old was examined by a pathologist and it was found her hymen had been broken at an earlier date,” Katsounotos explained.
He added that the police were moving ahead with the investigation, while yesterday, the 15-year-old was expected to give a video statement to police.
“We must avoid photographing the victim and her family, castigating or victimising anyone,” Katsounotos concluded.
