In February, there was a commotion in the LG Krems when two social workers came forward as witnesses about visits to the apartment of the mother who had locked her twelve-year-old son in a dog crate. They did not intervene, even though the child was in critical condition. The investigation by the public prosecutor’s office in Krems (Lower Austria) against the government employees has now been completed.
The “Krone” reported extensively on the terrible torture case: twelve-year-old Gerhard (name changed) had lost about 30 kilos by 2022, was severely hypothermic and nearly died at the hands of his mother and her sadistic girlfriend. The videos shown at the trial of the two women were disgusting: the boy was sitting on the floor, emaciated and shaking, barely able to move.
Freezing cold apartment that smelled of urine
At the time, social workers were investigating after a concerned teacher raised the alarm. They called the district headquarters of Waidhofen an der Thaya five times before inspection visits were made. Although the boy had his arms in bandages and only answered in monosyllabic answers, there was no one-on-one conversation with him. There was no nursery or bed, and the social workers did not look in the refrigerator. The apartment was freezing cold and smelled of urine.
“The mother said her son was sleeping in her bed,” the officer recalled as a witness. According to the man, the child’s thin frame was “no cause for concern.” Despite the alarming circumstances, authorities saw no reason to release the boy from his mother’s care. The social worker claimed in court that he saw “no immediate danger” and acted according to official instructions.
The fact is: A few days after his last check-up, on November 22, 2022, Gerhard’s life was in acute danger.
The country’s investigative commission has failed
Data protection caused the Lower Austrian state commission of inquiry to fail miserably, but the attempted murder trial of the mother and accomplice – they were sentenced to 20 and 14 years in prison respectively – nevertheless gave momentum to the evaluation of the explosive case.
As the “Krone” learned, the report of the Krems public prosecutor on the social worker and his colleague has been completed and must now be approved by the Ministry of Justice. The investigators are keeping a low profile about the content, but it is quite possible that charges of abuse of office will be filed against the two witnesses at the time. The presumption of innocence applies to them.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
