Poisoned children in Korçë, police bring proceedings against a doctor and the kindergarten director

After six children presented at Korçë Hospital with identical gastrointestinal symptoms, Korçë Police have opened criminal proceedings against two women — a doctor at the Korçë Regional Hospital and the director of the kindergarten the children attended.

The criminal proceedings began after, during yesterday afternoon and today, six children from the same kindergarten presented at the hospital with identical gastrointestinal symptoms, while police say the doctor is suspected of having failed to notify the authorities about the cases that presented at the hospital.

The kindergarten director, meanwhile, is suspected of having failed to fulfil her official duty regarding the control and verification of the food consumed by the children.

“The crime investigation specialists at the Korçë Police Commissariat have brought criminal proceedings, at liberty, for the criminal offence of ‘Abuse of office’, against E. X., 57, a doctor in the Paediatrics ward at Korçë Regional Hospital, and M. K., 60, director of the kindergarten,” police announced.

Earlier, the Public Health Directorate in Korçë confirmed that several children had presented at the Paediatrics ward. According to its director, Mikel Llogori, the epidemiology service has taken the relevant samples and their results are awaited.

Llogori stressed that at this stage it cannot be determined whether this is food poisoning or another infectious situation, while the cause is expected to be established after the test results.

According to preliminary data, the children’s health condition is not reported to be serious.

The procedural materials will be referred to the Prosecution at the Korçë Court of First Instance of General Jurisdiction, for further procedural actions.