Italy: Migrant Accused of Impregnating 10-Year-Old Girl Avoids Sexual Assault Charge as Judge Cites Lack of Evidence of Coercion

Al Cacciatore, screenshot, Remix News | Jihad Watch

An Italian prosecutor is weighing an appeal after a court sentenced a 29-year-old Bangladeshi man to five years in prison for sexual acts with a minor, rather than the more serious charge of sexual assault. The case involves a 10-year-old girl who became pregnant following two sexual encounters at a refugee reception center.

The incidents occurred in September 2024 at a reception facility in Collio, located inside the “Il Cacciatore” hotel. According to the ruling by Judge Valeria Rey, there was clear evidence of sexual intercourse, but prosecutors failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the acts involved physical violence, threats, or coercion. The court therefore reclassified the offense from sexual assault to sexual acts with a minor.

As reported by Giornale di Brescia, the girl told investigators she had been forcibly taken, sexually abused, and threatened with death if she revealed what happened. She described two separate incidents in different rooms at the center. Her mother testified that she had observed her daughter’s distress during that period and later connected it to the defendant’s actions.

However, Judge Rey determined that the allegations of violence and threats lacked supporting objective evidence. Material from the defendant’s mobile phone did not corroborate either account, and surveillance footage from the facility showed no signs of aggression or intimidation.

“The present proceedings feature two competing versions,” the judge wrote. “If one accepts the minor’s version, it will be a case of sexual assault; if one accepts the defendant’s version, the act must be classified as sexual acts with a minor.”

The ruling also addressed a defense argument regarding the girl’s mother, noting that she appeared open to the possibility of a future marriage between her daughter and the defendant, despite claiming unawareness of any sexual relationship. Judge Rey referenced the family’s cultural background, citing UNICEF data that approximately 30% of marriages in their country of origin involve minors, with 10% involving children under 15. She wrote that this context made the defendant’s account “not implausible,” while emphasizing that it did not exempt him from criminal responsibility.

(This Article was originally published by Jihad Watch)