The family of a child raped with a broom at a Braganca school received psychological support

The family of an 11-year-old schoolboy aged 13 to 16 who was raped by eight classmates at the Vimioso school in the Bragança region is receiving psychological support, the Parents’ Association said on Saturday.

In a statement, the president of the Vimioso School Group Parents Association said she was informed of the situation by the president of the Commission for the Protection of Children and Youth (CPCJ) Vimioso late Monday afternoon. on January 22, three days after the alleged sodomization episode, which also involved the victim’s brother.

“In this sense, I provided all possible support to the child and mother, and the victim’s family is currently receiving psychological support. I am aware that disciplinary proceedings are underway against the student aggressors, and the case is also under consideration. handed over to the Ministry of Public Affairs,” says the note signed by Sofia Sardinha.

This Saturday, the Lusa agency was contacted by the president of the CPCJ, Vimioso António Santos, who confirmed the psychological support provided to the family of the victim, saying that on Tuesday, January 30, the child made an appointment with a pediatric psychiatrist and that he will also receive appropriate psychological support.

CPCJ President Vimioso had previously told Lusa that he only became aware of the alleged sexual assault at 4:35 pm on Monday through the child’s mother, when the same thing happened three days earlier on Friday, January 19.

Several sources consulted by Lusa confirmed that the sodomization episode occurred at around 12:30 pm on Friday, January 19, inside the educational institution, “with the help of a broom” and in the presence of at least one staff member. stop the alleged attackers, this information was also contained in a statement from Vimioso Parish Council previously sent to Lusa.

According to police and local sources, two of the attackers are 16 years old – they could now face criminal charges – and one of them is the victim’s brother, who turned 16 on the day of the alleged sexual assault.

The remaining students allegedly involved in the incident are between 13 and 15 years old.

The alleged sexual assault occurred on Friday, January 19, but it was not until three days later, on Monday, January 22, that GNR was informed of the incident.

Only on the same day, the student with scratches and complaints was taken to the Vimioso Medical Center and then to the Braganza Hospital.

On Tuesday, January 23, judicial police inspectors were at the scene, and on Wednesday the victim was taken to the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Porto for a forensic examination, five days after the alleged episode of sodomization.

In a response sent to Lusa on Friday, the Ministry of Education (ME) said the Vimioso school team, upon learning of the incident, proceeded to “initiate 10 disciplinary proceedings against students who were allegedly involved in the case of the student victim of the alleged attack.”

Separate meetings are scheduled for Tuesday between Vimioso CPCJ, the victim’s mother and the parents of the students involved in the alleged attack.

Lusa asked questions to the Vimioso school group, continuing to wait for an answer, and tried several times to contact the director, Anna Paula Falcao, who still did not answer her calls.