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Police officers in Haninge (archive picture): No evidence against the mother
Photo: JONATHAN NACKSTRAND / AFP
The suspicion against a woman in Sweden of isolating and abusing her son for 28 years has not been substantiated.
Prosecutor Emma Olsson said in interviews with the Swedish media that there was no evidence found that the man was held in the apartment against his will.
A medical examination, however, showed that his wounds were due to illness and not the result of abuse.
"We haven't found any evidence that the man was locked up, handcuffed, or otherwise physically prevented from leaving the apartment," said Olsson.
She expects the investigation to be closed.
A case for the social authorities, not for the judiciary
The 41-year-old man was found by his sister on Sunday.
Apparently he lived undernourished and almost toothless in a filthy apartment in the Stockholm suburb of Haninge, as the Swedish newspapers "Expressen" and "Aftonbladet" reported.
He had inflamed wounds on his legs and could hardly walk or speak.
The sister told multiple media outlets that she had not seen her brother in more than 20 years.
The mother had isolated him from the outside world since he was twelve years old.
The 70-year-old woman was then arrested on suspicion of deprivation of liberty and assault.
She denied the allegations.
Prosecutor Olsson has now said the case is linked to a form of mental illness that has resulted in the two living in isolation.
It is more a case for health and social authorities than for the judiciary.
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mxw / dpa / AFP