pay off a debt
In this case a young girl, aged 12, became the central victim in a disturbing sequence involving trafficking and forced marriage. Six defendants appeared before the judge as part of a trial that concluded earlier than expected due to a settlement reached by the parties. Prosecutors indicated that the charges and penalties would be adjusted to align with recent reforms in the national legal framework, a change designed to reflect new protections for victims of sexual crimes and human trafficking. The court heard that the family used debt owed to two individuals as a pretext to exchange the girl for marriage to a Galician family that shared the same ethnic background, a practice intended to secure funds to settle financial obligations. The girl was moved from a settlement in Las Quemadillas to the capital of Córdoba and then to A Coruña under circumstances that raised serious concerns about consent and coercion. The defense and the prosecution evaluated the degree of accountability accordingly, with the possibility of reduced penalties under the updated laws that prioritise the rights of minors and the obligations of traffickers in such cases. The legal process in Córdoba and A Coruña reflected evolving standards in how courts interpret and apply protections for victims in trafficking and child exploitation cases, emphasizing that child marriage has no legal standing under current regulations and that the involved rituals carry no legal weight. The National Police reported that seven individuals were detained in connection with the case, three in A Coruña and four in Córdoba, as investigations progressed. Attribution: National Police and judicial sources.
The girl resided with her mother and partner in Las Quemadillas prior to the events. Faced with financial pressures stemming from debts to two people, the family agreed, through mutual consent, to place the child with a Galician family from the same community for marriage. The aim, according to prosecutors, was to obtain funds to satisfy debt obligations. The girl was enrolled in a Córdoba school but ultimately relocated to A Coruña under coercive conditions. During the period of the incident, the victim endured sexual assault. Investigators allege that one of the women involved played a key role in enabling the assault and facilitating the situation for the benefit of others in the group. Prosecutors say all involved acted as accomplices to human trafficking, and additional counts of sexual assault were added for several defendants, potentially aggravating sentences where applicable. Sources from the case indicate that the prosecution stipulated these elements as central to establishing the criminal network behind the operation.
Two years later
The inquiry into this case began in March 2021. Education Court No. 7 of Córdoba initially handled the investigation, later transferred to the Provincial Court, with forensic authorities coordinating closely with the National Police Service in A Coruña. Investigators conducted surveillance and performed searches in Córdoba and the Monte Alto district in A Coruña. After the young girl was located and safeguarded by authorities, health examinations and analyses were carried out. Tests conducted by the National Institute of Toxicology detected the presence of human genetic material in the girl, reinforcing concerns about exploitation and abuse. The girl has continued to receive social services support from Xunta de Galicia as the case progressed, with ongoing monitoring to protect her safety and well-being. The developments reflect a sustained effort by law enforcement, judicial bodies, and social services to address child trafficking and preserve the rights of minors under protective supervision. Attribution: National Police, health authorities, and Xunta de Galicia officials.