Two Romanian brothers, aged 43 and 50, were arrested on suspicions of sexual abuse in Alicante. A woman reported that she had been repeatedly assaulted and coerced into having sexual relations at a hostess club. She said the abuse stretched over years, and that she was threatened with harm to her daughter if she refused to engage in prostitution. Investigators noted that drugs were used at times, and the victims were manipulated into drinking with clients so the perpetrators could fraudulently exploit their payment cards. The brothers were released after a court appearance in Alicante as the investigation continued.
A formal complaint led authorities to the Provincial Police Station when a fire broke out at a nightclub that had former operations as a hostess venue in Alicante. One of the owners is among those in custody and faces allegations tied to arson, allegedly aimed at fraudulently benefiting from an insurance payout. A woman linked to one of the detainees testified as a protected witness, recounting that she had observed troubling acts inside a home in El Campello in January 2020, including distressing events concerning a partner involved in the case.
Physical and verbal aggression
Police reports indicate that the victim entered into a romantic relationship with one of the two detainees, who then subjected her to physical and verbal abuse. In official statements, the police described the victim as living under strict, ongoing surveillance for an extended period. She attempted to escape on several occasions but was deterred by fear that the men would carry out further threats against her and her daughters.
Investigators from Group 1 of the Unit Against Migration Networks and Documentary Lies (UCRIF) at the Alicante Provincial Police Station, with support from the Family and Women’s Care Unit (UFAM), coordinated efforts that confirmed the woman was being prostituted by the detainees as part of a broader scheme. The inquiry also uncovered multiple advertisements on various dating platforms offering sexual services, all operated without the victim’s consent. Authorities indicate that the proceeds of this operation were managed entirely by the detainees.
Custody
As the identities of the two alleged perpetrators were confirmed, both were located and detained on charges of sexual abuse, threats, and coercion. In addition, the victim’s romantic partner faced accusations of domestic violence related to the same case. One of the brothers was remanded in Fontcalent prison while facing additional charges of vandalism and fraud for allegedly setting fire to the nightclub he owned to obtain an insurance payout. The blaze caused an explosion injuring one person. These incidents occurred in January, and the Violent Crime Group took charge of the broader investigation, including the arrest of three individuals connected to the sexual assault allegations.