Spouse confines partner in squalid pigpen for extended period.
It's claimed by Polish authorities that a 35-year-old man kept a woman imprisoned in a barn for more than five years. He's accused of subjecting her to multiple rapes, physical assaults, and psychological torment. As reported by the news channel "Polsat News," based on the prosecutor's office statement, the man is named Mateusz J. He allegedly beat and torture the woman, who is five years younger, repeatedly raping her. He reportedly punched her in the face and used different objects for his attacks.
The Polish media report that Mateusz J. held the woman captive in a rural village, Gaika, situated in western Poland. He and his alleged victim reportedly met online in 2019, according to the local portal "Myglogow.pl." M. is said to have confined the woman in a small side room of his pigsty during their initial meeting.
The room, measuring only three by three meters, was reportedly locked, without windows, and had restricted access to hygiene products, water, electricity, and a toilet.
"I couldn't reveal the truth to the doctors"
M. is alleged to have taken the woman to the hospital various times with broken limbs. As reported by "Polsat News," the woman also gave birth to a child at some point in a hospital, which was put up for adoption. The reason why the medical staff in clinics didn't raise concerns remains unclear. The woman reportedly remained silent out of fear due to M.'s continued intimidation. "I couldn't reveal the truth to the doctors because I was scared. He threatened me, saying it would get worse if I complained," she told "Myglogow.pl."
She also claimed to be unsure of her location. "He covered my head with a hood so I didn't know where we lived while he took me to the clinic," she said. The same thing happened when he took her outside in the evenings for washing."
When the woman was hospitalized in August with a dislocated shoulder, the clinic alerted the authorities, according to the prosecutor in Glogow. The extent of her earlier injuries shocked the medical team.
Parents claim ignorance
As reported by the Polish portal "MyGlow," M.'s parents claim they had no knowledge of the crime, despite living in a house nearby the stable. "We didn't hear anything, we didn't see anything", said M.'s mother to the portal. She added, "He's a good boy."
The investigation is still ongoing, according to the prosecutor's office. A search warrant has been issued, and an arrest warrant is said to be requested. If convicted, the man could face up to 25 years in prison. The village of Gaiki is located approximately 90 kilometers northwest of Wroclaw (formerly Breslau).
The woman's silence in hospitals was due to continuous intimidation and fear of worsening circumstances, as she stated, "I couldn't reveal the truth to the doctors because I was scared. He threatened me, saying it would get worse if I complained."
The alleged sexual abuse extended to the woman giving birth in a hospital, which resulted in a child being put up for adoption, a fact that remained undiscovered by medical staff.
