Peter Tománek, director of Čistý deň resocialisation centre. (source: Sme)
Missing psychological reports, harsh decisions of investigators and failing communication among related state bodies, have all been revealed by politicians and journalists in the case of abused teenager Natália in Čistý deň resocialisation centre.
“The Labour Office and Labour Ministry are focusing on people who need help and they should react sensitively and promptly,” Silvia Shahzad of opposition Ordinary People and Independent Personalities (OĽaNO) told The Slovak Spectator. “However, sometimes they respond only after [a problematic] situation occurs and focus only on defending themselves.”
The case has been making headlines since Natália Blahová, an opposition MP for Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) wrote a blog on September 9 highlighting the sexual abuse of Natália, a minor in state care. She claims that a therapist in resocialisation centre Čistý deň in Galanta had sex with Natália against her will in October 2014. Sex involving children under 15 is unlawful, even if it is consensual.
Čistý deň director Peter Tománek refutes the claims concerning bad treatment of children in his centre.
“Why would all 22 children who got a summer leave in August 2016 return to the facility if they are harmed in such way,” Tománek said in his October 10 press release.
Besides information about loopholes throughout the whole system, the case brought to light other scandals. The opposition alleges that the government’s press department is giving advice to the centre regarding how to respond to media questions. Also children remain in Čistý deň despite courts deciding that they should be moved elsewhere. Meanwhile, two teenagers have left abroad.
