In Italy, a Moldovan woman is being investigated for fraud, abuse, and slavery. She exploited her niece for seven years, illegally obtaining €84,000 in disability pension benefits. The niece, now 30 years old, reported the situation in June of last year, leading to the investigation.
The girl came to Italy at 18. Prior to that, she experienced severe violence in Moldova: her father killed her mother and then left her tied to a tree with very little food. She was rescued and lived with her grandmother until she died in 2014. Moving in with her aunt in Italy, she hoped for a better life but faced violence and exploitation.
According to the Italian prosecutor’s office, the aunt forced her niece to pretend she had schizophrenia in order to receive a pension from the state, claiming that the niece was unable to care for herself.
From 2016 to 2023, the aunt took advantage of her niece’s vulnerability, forcing her to live in isolation and care for an elderly person. She prohibited the niece from going outside and gave her sedatives before medical examinations to mimic symptoms of illness. The girl even ended up in the hospital due to side effects.
The aunt threatened her niece, saying she would send her back to Moldova, where she would have no help.
The girl only spoke about the situation in 2023, when she managed to escape from her aunt and moved to Tuscany to start a new life. Meanwhile, the aunt returned to Moldova, believing she could escape punishment.
Initially, the case was set to be closed, but the niece’s lawyer managed to have the investigation reopened. The prosecutor has already interrogated the girl, and the investigation is nearing completion.