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The mother of the baby Kosún González Pedroso, who is 10 months old, was arrested this Monday afternoon in Camagüey, while authorities rescued her other two minor children who were with her, as reported by activist Guillermo Rodríguez Sánchez on Facebook.
The arrest occurred in a home that the woman was illegally occupying in the Cándido González district, at 310 Lugareño Street, between Hermanos Agüero and Martí, just a few meters from institutions such as Public Health and the headquarters of the Communist Party of Cuba.
"Kusum's mother, who committed such atrocities in collusion with a woman who 'cared for' the baby, was free until this Monday, March 23, in the afternoon," wrote Rodríguez Sánchez.
At the time of the arrest, the agents rescued Samira, 6 years old, and Siman, who is about to turn 5, siblings on their mother's side of baby Kosún.
Both minors were immediately transferred to the pediatric hospital of Camagüey for physical evaluation, hydration, and basic care, and were subsequently taken to the Manuel Zabalo shelter, where Kosún was already present.
A case of systematic abuses
The case had shocked Cuba since March 3, when the baby was rushed to the Eduardo Agramonte Piña pediatric hospital following reports from neighbors.
The child showed severe protein-energy malnutrition, developmental delay, cigarette burns on the neck, multiple bruises, and extreme dehydration.
According to testimonies, Kosún had been held for approximately three months in a dark room, fed only once a day.
After 17 days of hospitalization, with care from a multidisciplinary team of pediatricians, nutritionists, and gastroenterologists, the baby made a favorable recovery: gained weight and improved motor response.
On March 20, he was discharged and was transferred to the Manuel Zabalo home, which specializes in early childhood without family support.
The arrest would not have happened without public pressure. "Coincidentally, and coinciding with several complaints made from this profile and others on social media regarding this very serious situation, the prosecutor's office sent police authorities to his home and carried out the arrest," noted Rodríguez Sánchez.
The activist also reported that the caregiver who allegedly committed most of the abuses has reportedly been arrested as well.
The mother has a total of six children: three lived with her, while the other three were previously taken away by their parents or paternal grandmothers.
Rodríguez Sánchez warned that the background of that mother regarding abuse towards her children is extensive, including the case of her 12-year-old daughter who was taken away by her father following alleged instances of exploitation.
"She was allegedly subjected in the past to situations of exploitation, yes, exploitation of that filthy kind that you can probably imagine. The mother also emerged unscathed from that accusation in the past," he added.
This type of case is not isolated: reports of mothers assaulting their children have been recurring in recent years.
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