A statement from the Pécs Court has shed light on the disturbing case involving a Finnish couple who adopted a boy under extremely adverse conditions in Hungary.

The family relocated to a village in Baranya County in 2022, introducing themselves as a household of three, but they also had another adopted son, an 11-year-old boy from China, whose existence went unnoticed by local authorities.

The couple's biological son learned Hungarian and attended school, whereas the adopted son was reportedly confined to a windowless room in the house, unable to turn on the lights and completely isolated from the family.

He was denied regular meals with the family and did not have access to a bathroom, leading him to wear diapers that were changed by his guardians once a day.

The adopted child's bathing routine was described as shocking, with the family allegedly only washing him once a week using a cold water hose outdoors, even in winter.

In July 2024, the boy managed to escape from the house by prying off the back panel of a closet on two occasions.

The first time he was returned to his guardians, but the second time, he remained missing, prompting an official report of his disappearance.

A search team later located him hiding in the bushes of an abandoned building, revealing to the world the horrific conditions faced by the Finnish couple's adopted child.

Local child protection authorities intervened, removing the boy from the couple's custody, and the police have since launched a criminal investigation into the matter.

Expert assessments by a forensic psychologist indicated that the child was developmentally and emotionally delayed for his age, heading towards a state of severe endangerment that might cause irreversible damage.

The Finnish couple is currently under suspicion of violating personal freedoms and endangering the welfare of a minor, as stipulated by Hungarian law regarding minors under 18. The public prosecutor requested their arrest on March 20, citing concerns that the foreign nationals could flee the country, as they could face imprisonment of up to 12 years for their actions.

The court ordered criminal supervision, restricting the couple from leaving their administrative region.

The prosecution has appealed this decision, advocating for their arrest to remain in effect.

Initially, the couple claimed that the child's isolation was necessary due to alleged mental disabilities and incontinence issues.

However, they were unable to provide medical evidence to support these claims, leading to speculation that the boy's mental state could have been significantly impaired by his confinement, the cruelty of his guardians, and a lack of intellectual stimulation.

The couple subsequently chose not to provide any further testimony or justification for their treatment of the boy.

The specific village where this case occurred has not been officially named in court documents, but Geresdlak's history of Finnish families purchasing homes there has led to speculation among locals.

Residents reported having no knowledge of the adopted son, stating that the couple had neither connections within the village nor interactions with other Finnish families, who are known to integrate well into local life.

After the incident became public, the couple did not attempt to explain their actions, and the locals refrained from inquiring further.

The family engaged in viticulture and wine production, operating a well-equipped winery with modern machinery.

Their biological son attends school in Villány, developing good relations with peers in Geresdlak, but he reportedly has never mentioned his Chinese 'brother.'

Locals believe the Chinese adopted boy is staying at a children's home in Komló and attending a specialized school.

There is no confirmation on whether he has made any progress in catching up on his developmental delays over the past six months.

The residents assert that the boy has no desire to return to his adoptive parents and does not wish to have any new guardians.

This case raises significant questions about the welfare of adopted children from families that relocate to different countries.

Within the European Union, families can cross borders with minimal scrutiny, which means that local authorities may only be notified of an adopted child's presence if the family formally registers them.

Without this action, a hidden child remains invisible in the host country's child protection records.

It appears that authorities in the child's country of origin may not track the well-being of children once families relocate abroad.

Inquiries among Hungarian families who have moved overseas indicate that after registering their change of residence, local authorities lose oversight concerning their children's schooling and overall welfare.

Inquiries have been made to the Ministry of Administrative and Territorial Development regarding the regulatory measures in place for monitoring the welfare of children when families move countries, both in Hungary and across the EU. Further information will be shared upon receiving responses.