The case of the girl allegedly held for years in a house in Attendorn, Sauerland, is again an issue in the North Rhine-Westphalian state parliament on Thursday. In addition to the investigations against the relatives, possible omissions by the youth welfare office are likely to be the focus. The case is on the agenda of the Family, Children and Youth Committee (10 a.m.) and the Internal Affairs Committee (1.30 p.m.).
The eight-year-old is said to have been held in the house by her mother and grandparents for years. The three are being investigated on suspicion of deprivation of liberty and the abuse of wards. The girl was freed in September and placed with a foster family, according to investigators, the eight-year-old is doing well under the circumstances.
The public prosecutor’s office in Siegen is also examining possible omissions by the youth welfare office in the Olpe district. The office had received anonymous tips several times, but home visits and other research are said to have yielded no solid evidence. A report published on Tuesday by NRW family minister Josefine Paul (Greens) states that professional procedural standards for child protection “were not fully complied with”. According to Michael Färber from the youth welfare office, the main issue was documentation deficits.