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!".
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