Abuse in children's homes: raid in Csongrád-Csanád, five suspects
Police conducted searches at 14 locations in rural child protection facilities on Wednesday. Carers committed criminal offences against at least ten children.
Raid on rural children's homes: abuse covered up for years
According to portfolio.hu's information, police conducted a large-scale operation on Wednesday in child protection facilities in Csongrád-Csanád and Békés counties after an investigation revealed that carers and facility managers had covered up abuse.
Police Brigadier Áron Jeney stated that the investigation began in 2024 on the basis of an anonymous report, which alleged that children in rural child protection facilities were being abused and that sexual offences were committed against them. During the investigation, 120 witnesses were questioned, and on Wednesday 13 minors were also interviewed.
Five suspects, one detained
Under the "Operation Cleansing Fire" framework, five people were accused, one of whom was also detained. According to police suspicion, carers, supervisors and facility managers committed criminal offences against at least ten children.
According to Police Lieutenant Colonel Máté Csupor, head of department of the KR NNI Drug Crime Prevention Office, searches were conducted at 14 locations on Wednesday. Units of the Counter-Terrorism Centre also participated in the operation, as one man arrested in Csanádpalota — who worked in one of the facilities between 2018 and 2023 and was previously a border guard — possessed firearms. These were seized by police. The man is suspected of abusing eight children: according to the documents, he kicked one boy in the throat, choked him and struck him on the head, and also kicked him in the chest. There is also a known case in which the suspect struck a child's head against the board at school in front of the headmaster's deputy's eyes.
A 62-year-old woman, a former child supervisor, was also arrested in Csanádpalota, accused of beating and choking two children. The operation also apprehended a supervisor who, although he did not abuse children himself, witnessed the criminal offences and failed to make the necessary reports.
Leaders suspected of abuse of office
The head and professional manager of the Csanádpalota residential home were also apprehended. According to the allegation, records of the abuse were not documented in accordance with the facts — they are suspected of abuse of authority.
The investigation established that a sexual crime also occurred in one rural facility, but the alleged perpetrator died in 2019. It also became clear that some institutional employees knew about the cases but concealed or covered them up.
Six terabytes of data and 13 bags of documents seized
In addition to the Csanádpalota children's home, searches were conducted in facilities in Szeged, Dévaványa and Hódmezővásárhely, as well as in economic and administrative centres. A total of 6 terabytes of digital data and 13 bags of documents related to the investigation of the abuse were seized.
Máté Csupor announced that, since the investigation continuously revealed further misconduct, the KR NNI will review all records of abuse at all facilities belonging to the affected foundation dating back to 2021, and will interview those involved. Regarding cases discovered in the foster parent network, in one case charges have already been brought for sexual abuse, the others are in the investigative phase.
Police indicated further accusations and opened a reporting opportunity: information relating to this criminal proceeding is expected at the email address [email protected].
Source: Google News HU — Crime (hu)