The Palma Court, in its First Division, handed down a prison sentence of five years and nine months to a 29-year-old man who was a minor at the time of the events: he was fifteen when the acts occurred at his home in Palma de Mallorca. The Mallorcan Institute of Social Services (IMAS) joined the case as a private prosecutor and supported the prosecutor’s request.
Initially, the public ministry had sought an eleven-year prison term for the alleged sexual assault of a minor under sixteen. The request was later reduced to five years and nine months after a conciliation agreement reached between the prosecutor, the special prosecution, and the defense attorney, Andreu Rotger.
As part of the ruling, the defendant was ordered to stay away from the victim’s home and workplace, and from any location the victim attends, at a distance of more than 500 meters for ten years. He was also prohibited from communicating with the victim by telephone, computer, written, verbal, or audiovisual means during that decade.
The decision also imposes a period of supervised freedom for ten years once the prison term is served and requires the defendant to participate in sexual education programs.
Additionally, the convicted individual must compensate the victim with 12,000 euros for civil liability and moral damages caused by the offense.
The events at issue took place on June 24, 2019, at the defendant’s home in Palma. Reports indicate that the now-convicted person had met the minor the day before, and they decided to meet again at the defendant’s residence the following morning.
What began as a meeting escalated into a sexual assault. Prosecutors state that the young man restrained the victim by grabbing their arms to prevent escape, and then undressed them in stages under pressure and against the minor’s will, first from above and then from below, before the assault occurred.
The 15-year-old adolescent was in custody at a reception center managed by the Mallorcan Institute of Social Services (IMAS). Shortly after returning to the apartment, those responsible at IMAS learned about the incident and the act was confirmed by the actions of the responsible personnel.
Report to the police
IMAS activated the protocol established for such situations. In this process, the case of sexually exploited supervised minors was brought to light by Diario de Mallorca, part of the Prensa Ibérica group. The center’s officials filed the corresponding complaint, and the National Police took charge of the investigation.
Forensic examination of the minor indicated injuries consistent with sexual assault, and police investigations led to the arrest of the 26-year-old in the period following the events for alleged rape.
The scandal involving IMAS and the protection of minors in the context of suspected prostitution marked a turning point in how these adolescents are monitored and safeguarded, prompting heightened surveillance and improved procedures.
In this case, IMAS also agreed to participate as a private prosecutor, illustrating the agency’s active role in pursuing accountability for abuses against minors.
Note: This summary is based on court records and contemporary reporting from local outlets [Source: Diario de Mallorca, Prensa Ibérica].