From Ciutadella on the island of Menorca, a mother first moved her seven-year-old son to the town of Tielmes in Madrid, then onward to Brussels in Belgium. Belgian police located the boy in that city after being alerted by Spain’s National Police, which had issued a search following charges of parental abduction brought by the Court of First Instance and Ciutadella Instruction 1. These events unfolded across borders, drawing on cross‑jurisdictional cooperation to resolve a case that began in the Balearic Islands.
According to reports, the mother later claimed that after suffering a rape, she fled from the child’s father, who was her partner. She described experiences of gender-based violence and asserted that the child had been subjected to sexual abuse by his father. The statements provided by both parents triggered a formal response from authorities who must weigh the safety of the child against custody claims, all within the framework of national and international law.
Following the parents’ sworn statements, the Belgian Family and Juvenile Prosecutor ordered the child’s return to Spain, placing him under supervision as of January 30. This decision resulted from a months-long investigation that began in the previous October and involved assessments of custody rights, child welfare, and potential risk factors in multiple jurisdictions.
In Spain, the National Police’s Family and Women’s Care Units, through the ENFAST network, activated a fugitive search after receiving the Ciutadella court’s request. Investigators pursued leads in Tielmes and surrounding areas, even after the suspect had left the town, but they continued to monitor digital footprints and financial traces tied to the mother. The case highlighted how digital forensics and financial activity can illuminate movement patterns across borders, aiding prosecutions and custody decisions.
Belgian authorities ultimately tracked the woman and her son with cooperation from the Belgian Federal Police. On January 26, investigators sought formal arrest through a judicial rogatory commission, coordinating with Spanish authorities to ensure proper legal steps were followed and rights were respected during the process.
The mother appeared in Belgian courts and testified to fleeing the country amid allegations of gender-based violence. She described the alleged sexual abuse of the child by the father and argued for protection under Belgian and European procedures that emphasize safeguarding the child’s welfare. Belgian authorities then requested an urgent video conference with Spanish officials as part of an ongoing European investigation order that allowed for cross‑border communication and evidence sharing.
After hearing both parents on January 30, the Belgian Children’s Prosecutor ruled that the child be returned to his father at the request of Spanish authorities. The transfer occurred the same day, but practical complications arose because the child did not possess a national identity document, and the mother had disposed of all records. To address this, the Spanish Attaché in Belgium issued a report confirming a safe passage plan that would permit the child to travel under supervision and legal safeguards, ensuring continuity of care and protection during the handover.
This case underscores how complex interjurisdictional custody disputes can become when concerns over child safety intersect with parental rights. It also illustrates how European legal mechanisms, including judicial requests, child welfare reviews, and cross‑border police cooperation, operate in tandem to resolve sensitive situations. While the specifics of the allegations involve violence and potential abuse, authorities strive to balance due process with the immediate need to secure the child’s safety and provide stable, lawful custody arrangements across borders.
In the end, the authorities’ coordinated response aimed to prioritize the minor’s well-being while upholding the legal responsibilities of both parties. The case reflects ongoing efforts by national and European bodies to manage international family disputes with a focus on child protection, lawful extradition procedures, and the timely resolution of custody issues in a multinational context.