The legal process concerning allegations against four daycare workers is proceeding under legal confidentiality, a source confirmed. The Casa do Povo de Rabo de Peixe in São Miguel, Azores, has filed a criminal complaint against the employees for allegedly mistreating children between the ages of 1 and 3.
Lisandra Faria, one child’s mother impacted by the alleged mistreatment, noted that the four workers have been suspended for two weeks. She has withdrawn her child from the institution due to a “lack of trust” in the staff.
The president of the Casa do Povo de Rabo de Peixe, Carlos Estrela, was unavailable for comment due to vacation. The workers were initially suspended by the institution in May, but the court ordered their reintegration under supervision pending a formal decision, despite the seriousness of the allegations. They are required to attend courses for aggressors as mandated by the court.
Disturbing images obtained by Notícias ao Minuto show incidents of slapping and pushing, along with staff forcing children to ingest their vomit and pushing food down their throats with utensils. The children involved are aged between 1 and 3 years.
Bruno Rego, another parent, and Tânia Raposo, yet another, both state the investigation is ongoing and confirmed the existence of footage documenting the alleged mistreatment.
The parents and community have launched a petition, which now has 1,311 signatures, calling for the immediate suspension of the four workers implicated in the complaint. The petition is addressed to the Regional Government President, the Casa do Povo de Rabo de Peixe, and the Rabo de Peixe Parish Council. It states the unacceptability of allowing accused employees to continue work while under investigation.
The petition argues that “such a situation violates the principle of precaution and offends the fundamental rights of the children and their families.”
