Live-Streamed Abuse of a Minor
Police arrested two young men from the Zagreb area for tormenting a girl, filming it, and posting it online. The court refused to remand them in custody.
Police arrested two young men from the Zagreb area for tormenting a girl, filming it, and posting it online. The court refused to remand them in custody.
Zagreb police arrested a 19-year-old and an 18-year-old on suspicion of sexually abusing a minor girl, filming the act, and then posting it online. The two young men are charged with multiple offenses, ranging from violation of child rights and indecent acts to unauthorized recording.
The suspects tried to pass it off as "just a prank," but the investigation revealed a much darker picture. In the footage, which is not entirely clear whether it was streamed live or posted afterward, the girl can be clearly heard resisting their advances and saying it hurts, while derogatory comments about her are made in the background.
The criminal complaint also notes disturbing statements that further illustrate the attackers' callousness. One of the young men says in the recording: "Your dad is watching you live. More people are watching you than ever before." Other comments are so inappropriate that they cannot be publicly quoted.
The victim, according to available information, is a minor girl who previously had behavioral issues and drug abuse problems.
After they were identified and arrested, the prosecution requested pretrial detention, a request the court denied. Instead, precautionary measures were imposed, including a ban on contacting the victim. Both young men, who were actively involved in sports during their schooling, now face serious charges.
They face prison time for the offenses they are charged with. For violation of child rights, that is, forcing a child to engage in behavior inappropriate for their age, the maximum sentence is up to five years in prison, and the same maximum applies to indecent acts with a minor. Unauthorized recording and making the recording available to a large number of people is punishable by up to three years in prison.
