Judicial Update in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Involving Alleged Sexual Assault case
A judge from the 8th Investigation Court of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria issued a decision today concerning three individuals linked to an incident at a hotel near Santa Catalina Park in the north of the island. The three suspects face charges related to a serious sexual offense. The court granted measures to prevent their departure from the country and ordered the withdrawal of their passports, in line with the request from the public prosecutor. The judges cited the risk of flight as a key reason for keeping the suspects detained while the investigation continues. The defendants, aged 48, 28 and 25, have been in custody since an arrest made earlier this year. These actions illustrate the authorities commitment to thoroughly pursuing the case and ensuring public safety, according to the Supreme Court of Justice of the Canary Islands (TSJC) reporting.
The judicial authority acted in response to the prosecutor’s request, which argued that there was a clear risk that the suspects could attempt to flee the country. The three men are accused of a sexual offense with aggravating circumstances related to rape. The court’s decision reflects concerns about the potential for cover-up or intimidation if the suspects were allowed to remain at large during the investigation. The men are currently held in custody under the terms set by the court. This development marks a pivotal step in the ongoing legal process.
According to the account, the sequence began on a Thursday morning when the victim went to the Las Canteras beach around 10:00. She reportedly met three men who were temporarily in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria for work with a port services company. The woman initially declined an invitation to participate in an activity but later agreed under persistent pressure. The alleged events then moved to a hotel, where hotel surveillance footage shows the group entering the premises around 11:30 a.m. The victim later reported regaining consciousness to discover she had been assaulted and left in a partially undressed state, alternately disoriented and unwell. She sought help at the reception about two hours later, at around 1:40 p.m., prompting staff to accompany her to a private room for care while the National Police were notified.
Hotel personnel promptly assisted the injured individual and coordinated with law enforcement. Police officers arrived swiftly to collect a statement and proceeded to the upper floors to locate the suspects, who were subsequently detained for alleged sexual crimes. At the time of the arrest, all three were found in various rooms of the hotel, with no clothes worn. The police response underscored the rapid coordination between hotel staff and law enforcement in ensuring the safety of the victim and securing the scene for investigation. The case continues to unfold as investigators gather and preserve evidence, including room-by-room inspections and witness testimonies.
Investigators are actively exploring several theories about what happened, including whether the victim was drugged. To establish this, authorities are collecting biological samples for toxicology testing. These samples have been forwarded to the National Institute of Toxicology for analysis, with the Canary Islands delegation handling the processing in Tenerife. Another possibility under examination is that the victim’s condition resulted from the effects of alcohol consumption. Forensic and medical evidence will play a central role in determining the sequence of events and the presence of any substances that could have influenced the victim’s state of consciousness.
In a related procedural step, the Court Number 2 of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria conducted follow-up proceedings last weekend, taking statements from three additional individuals connected to the case. Temporary detention orders were extended as part of ongoing investigative efforts, reinforcing the authorities commitment to a careful and comprehensive judicial review. The case remains a focal point for local prosecutors and investigators as they work toward establishing a clear factual record and pursuing accountability for those involved [Source: TSJC].