Authorities have detained a woman suspected of beating a four-year-old boy to death, while social workers placed two other children in the family into custodial care after reports of physical abuse at a home in Taipei’s Shilin District (士林).
A five-year-old girl was also found to have various injuries, including bruises and burn marks, and she was taken to a local hospital for treatment.
Police said they have detained a couple, both surnamed Liu (劉).
The 34-year-old man and 29-year-old woman are said to be in a relationship, while the two child victims were from the man’s previous marriage.
The couple have two children of their own — a one-year-old boy and a three-year-old girl.
Due to concerns for their well-being, Taipei City Department of Social Welfare officials have placed the younger children into custodial care.
Shilin District Prosecutors’ Office officials said a local court judge has granted the detention of the female suspect, who was held incommunicado yesterday after she admitted to using a broom handle to hit the four-year-old boy.
An autopsy showed the boy had bruises on more than 20 places on his torso and limbs, and wounds on the back of his head, where forensic pathologists said signs indicated that he had suffered injuries over a long period of time.
After questioning, the father was released on NT$60,000 bail, and forbidden from leaving his home.
Prosecutors said that they plan to indict the female suspect on charges of manslaughter and intentional injury causing death.
Some people criticized the Taipei City Department of Social Welfare for what they said was a slow response and negligence in the case, as social workers had visited the family several times to check on the children, with the couple receiving social assistance of more than NT$36,000 per month.
The department yesterday issued a statement acknowledging negligence.
It said social workers visited the home and discussed the childrens’ welfare with the parents.
“At the time, we did not see signs of child abuse. The children were active and playful. However, it is regrettable that this incident has happened,” it said.
“In the initial assessment of this case — given that taking care of four children is no easy task — social workers should have been more proactive in investigating the situation and should have better analyzed the information they gathered,” the statement added.
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