A teaching assistant at a kindergarten in the village of Begimbet in the Shalkar district of Kazakhstan's Aktobe region scratched the face of a sleeping 18-month-old child, an incident captured by surveillance cameras, the website infohub.kz reports.
The footage shows the kindergarten employee approaching the sleeping toddler, scratching the child's face and leaving the room. Police are now investigating what motivated the adult, who has worked at the preschool for the past 17 years.
A criminal case has been opened over the failure to properly perform duties related to the upbringing of a minor. Investigative actions are under way, and surveillance camera recordings have been seized.
According to the district education department, the kindergarten has 25 children enrolled.
"After the incident, a special commission was set up, an inspection is being carried out and a forensic medical examination has been ordered. The employee involved has worked at this institution since 2009. He has now been suspended from his duties. We express our regret over what happened at the educational institution. The situation is under control," said Ayan Bashanov, head of the Shalkar district education department.