Mother seeks treatment abroad, leaving girls home alone, court told

The prosecution said that the cause seemed to be a cultural one, and that the children seemed to be 'in control' of the situation

Police had been informed that on 9 February that two minors had been left at home unattended whilst their parents were in Poland
Police had been informed that on 9 February that two minors had been left at home unattended whilst their parents were in Poland

A Chinese woman has admitted to abandoning her two children, aged nine and 11, for a week whilst she was in Poland, claiming to have been seeking treatment for an undisclosed medical condition.

Inspector Paula Ciantar and inspector Roderick Agius charged the woman with neglect and mistreatment of the two girls.

The 35-year-old woman, who is not being named in order to protect the identity of the children, pleaded guilty to ill-treatment or neglect of children under twelve years of age.

It is understood that the girls' Polish father had been in Poland at the time and had told police that he was unaware that the children had been left unattended.

Defence lawyer Francine Abela, appearing as legal aid to the accused, approached the bench together with the prosecution to discuss the case with the magistrate out of earshot of the public.

Ciantar, who is prosecuting together with Agius, told magistrate Gabriella Vella that police had been informed that on 9 February that two minors had been left at home unattended whilst their parents were in Poland. “We made contact with the parents in Poland, the father returned and told the police that he wasn't aware that the children were unattended,” Ciantar said.

“We were aware that the accused was in Poland for medical reasons and had to spend more time there. She returned a few days ago and we proceeded to arrest her, after obtaining a warrant from magistrate Farrugia Frendo.”

The father was unaware of the situation, she said, having expected her to travel with the children, he said.


Agius said that the cause seemed to be a cultural one. The police had spoken with the children, who he said seemed to be quite independent and were “quite in control” of the situation, he said. “But it is unacceptable to leave children alone for a week. It seems to be acceptable in China and this is why the accused did so.” The prosecution did not insist on a prison sentence.

The court will deliver its decision on punishment tomorrow.

Lawyer Francine Abela was defence counsel.