Psychiatrist gets 4 yrs in fostering abuse case

(ANSA) - ROME, NOV 11 - A top Turin child psychiatrist got four years in jail Thursday in a case of alleged abuse in fostering cases in the northern town of Bibbiano which led to sharp criticism for the centre-left Democratic Party (PD) that runs the town.
    Claudio Foti, who runs the Hansel&Gretel clinic in Turin, was found guilty of abuse of office and bodily harm.
    Bibbiano Mayor Andrea Carletti was indicted Thursday on charges of abuse of office but cleared of making false statements.
    PD official Carletti is under house arrest in relation to the probe into alleged malpractice by social workers in fostering cases in the town in Emilia-Romagna.
    Social workers are alleged to have coached and coerced kids into saying their parents were abusing them so that they could be entrusted to 'friendly' families for a profit, according to investigators.
    The case has frequently been hit the headlines in recent months and sparked political rows, with rightwing parties like the League and Brothers of Italy slamming the PD.
    League leader Matteo Salvini paid several high-profile visits to Bibbiano saying "Hands off our children!". (ANSA).