Julian, who was abducted in 2019, publicly revealed that he could testify in the Zaragoza Court this Monday morning thanks to a remarkable turn of events. He described the moment as frightening, saying he felt his life was in danger and that he had no choice but to cooperate. The incident, which became linked to the so-called Badoo case, involved a social network created to help people form closer relationships. He recalled the assailants threatening him and demanding his bank card numbers or ransom payments from his family.
During the initial session of a multi-day trial, the Tudela resident explained the sequence of events to the court. The two defendants, Mohamed Achraf and Hedangeline Candy Arrieta, faced questions as the proceedings unfolded. Achraf admitted to certain charges, with his lawyer Carmen Sánchez Herrero present at the hearing. The prosecutor noted the admission even before the questioning began. Candy Arrieta claimed he had no involvement in the events that took place in the Luceni area on September 4, three years earlier and asserted his innocence in the case.
The defendants sat on the bench, awaiting the testimonies that would shape the case moving forward. Both defendants face potential sentences that could reach up to 15 years for theft, injury, illegal detention, and attempted extortion. The initial plan projected a higher sentence, but a charge related to criminal gang membership was withdrawn by the prosecutor, Cristina Gracia of the Cabrejas Abogados office. The state seeks a sentence of 10 years and 9 months in total.
The defendants have previously accumulated two prior convictions totaling around 46 and a half years in prison. The case connections include the killing of a Guecho computer scientist and the ambush of a resident from La Almunia, all linked to the Badoo network. In today’s hearing, the two defendants were seated a short distance apart rather than in adjacent chairs, a notable deviation from their usual arrangement in court.
It was the first time the male defendant admitted guilt, while the other maintains innocence in all charges and pleads not guilty. The alleged abuse involved a claim of a romantic relationship with the other co-defendant, a claim contradicted at times by testimony. The narrative centers on the use of Badoo to arrange meetings, with the events allegedly unfolding at a train station in Luceni around nightfall. The victim reported arriving by train, meeting with the attacker, and then being attacked from behind as they walked after an initial embrace.
Statements from the victim describe a violent confrontation
The injured man recounted being struck on the head with a heavy tool and attempting to escape before being caught again. A physical altercation ensued, and the assailant, identified as Mohamed Achraf, reportedly restrained him and threatened to kill him if he did not comply. The confrontation continued in a dry ditch where the attacker warned him of deadly consequences before the victim was placed into a vehicle and driven to a warehouse and an unknown location. An ATM check reportedly confirmed the absence of money on the victim.
After being moved, the victim was released into a field around midnight. He recalled spotting distant cars that did not stop to help and received assistance later from a tractor operator. Candy, using the nickname Bella on Badoo, allegedly told the victim that he had begun work for Mohamed and offered money to care for his children. Initially, the relationship seemed ordinary, but the dynamics soon shifted to threats and coercion, including alleged violence against relatives abroad.
The victim reiterated that he did not threaten anyone with death or place anyone in a trunk. He added that he did not know all of the particulars of the case and insisted that many details were still contested. The hearings continue as investigators work to establish a complete sequence of events and determine the extent of each defendant’s involvement in the alleged crimes, including unlawful detention and extortion tied to the Badoo network.
The proceedings in Zaragoza continue to unfold as authorities seek to determine the full scope of the defendants’ roles and the impact on the victim. The court will hear more testimonies and evidence in the days ahead, potentially shaping the final verdict in this high-profile case tied to social media facilitated crimes.