UAE, Mar 14 (Emirates 24 x 7): In a shocking case of neglect and child abuse, the Ministry of Social Affairs has rescued a child who was imprisoned and handcuffed in a room for the last 12 years.

The ministry did not say how old the boy is, but, stated that he was confined to a room by his mother because he was an illegitimate child.

According to the report in Emarat Al Youm, the ministry has moved the boy to the care of the Department of Social Services in Sharjah.

Hussein Al Chawab, Director, Social Protection, Ministry of Social Affairs, said, “The child was discovered coincidently after we received some information about the case.”

He added: “The ministry immediately took action and paid a visit to the family and was able to transfer the child to the Department of Social Services to ensure a decent life for him.

“The child was locked in a room adjacent to the family home and was also handcuffed under the pretext of protecting him.

“He was deprived of mixing with people and friends, and playing like the normal children.

 “The mother and her children were ashamed to show the child because his father is unknown.”

He pointed out that the child was a victim of social circumstances where the mother was married and had children by her current husband, but the child was from a previous relationship and without identification papers.

The child suffers from bouts of anger, is violent and wets the bed.

Magda Khamis, Head of Social Education, Ministry of Social Affairs said the department contacted the family and persuaded them to hand over the child.

She added that being handcuffed made the child more aggressive and prone to violence as he has never dealt with people except his family who never cared about him.