Police on Monday arrested 10 people suspected of abusing patients at a children's psychiatric rehabilitation clinic in Grottaferrata, just outside Rome. One of the arrested is being held in jail, while the other nine are under house arrest. Police say the suspects beat, force-fed, insulted and humiliated the 16 patients - some as young as eight years old - and kept three of them isolated in lockdown in their rooms.
The three-month investigation, which included audio and video recordings, began in early 2015 after directors of the company that manages the clinic reported suspected abuse to police.
Custody in jail was given to the employee who was suspected of locking the patients in their rooms, impeding their movement and thus considered equivalent to the crime of kidnapping or abduction.
Judges are reviewing the cases of six others suspected of similar behavior.
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