The house of the couple from Janjeva in Lipjan, who were arrested for abusing a 5-year-old child, had been renovated only six months ago.

Samire Kastrati, a volunteer from Podujeva, stated that together with many donors, they mobilized in May of last year to help the nine-member family after being alarmed by their dire situation.

“The entire house had been renovated inside, as you also saw, and there was nothing major outside except the entrance, which was also renovated. The house was fully equipped, including the kitchen and everything else.”

However, alarm was raised again when KosovaPress published current footage of the house.

“We had been monitoring this family until September. By September, the house renovation was complete, and when I saw the coverage in your media and in many other outlets, it struck me as a case, because you had the videos showing how we had renovated the house,” she said.

She also explained that during the time she visited the family, she had not noticed that the children’s parents had mental health issues. However, she observed that two of the children remained silent the entire time.

“I am shocked by this case. Every time we went to the family, those two children never spoke. I asked the children’s mother why these children never talk, and she told me, ‘They are just quiet like that,’” she explained.

From May to September, as Samire said, while the house renovation was ongoing, the mother of the 5-year-old constantly spoke about the children.

“We never noticed that the children were unwell. On the contrary, the mother said that she only does things for the children. The children appeared healthy. Only the two children, I never saw them standing or speaking; even if people had given them anything, they took it but never spoke,” she recounted.

Nevertheless, she recalled that neighbors had told them that the family was selling items.

“People around said that she [the mother] sells items, but we did not intervene strongly… Today is Eid night, and we had planned to go and deliver something. Since I know the case well, I am familiar with the house and the entrance,” she said.

But was the Center for Social Work aware of the family’s living conditions or the damage done to the house in such a short time?

Director of the CSW Makfirete Shamolli did not respond to KosovaPress regarding when social workers last visited the family. Samire denies having heard of any such visits.

“I have gone there often, and we never saw a social worker. The neighbors also told me no one ever comes here,” she concluded.

The case of the 5-year-old has shocked the country these past days. Due to abuse by the parents, he is being treated in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.

Meanwhile, both parents are in pre-trial detention by order of the Basic Prosecution in Prishtina.

The other six children of the family have been placed under care by the Center for Social Work in Lipjan.

The Minister of Health, Arben Vitia, spoke today about the health condition of the young child from Lipjan, stating that his condition is stable and that he has started to communicate.