Moroccan immigrant raped a girl under guardianship in a juvenile center in Murcia

Murcia is shaken by the conviction of a Moroccan immigrant who, under the guise of a "social educator" at a youth center, committed a brutal sexual assault against a state-ward girl just 15 years old. This shocking incident, which took place in March 2021 but whose sentence has only become final four years later, highlights the urgent need to review security protocols and the suitability of personnel working with the most vulnerable children in state care.

The Provincial Court of Murcia has handed down a six-year prison sentence for this individual, who, at 31 years old, used his position to abuse the minor's trust. The justice system has been clear: despite any "consent" the young girl may have expressed, Spanish law doesn't recognize itbelow the age of 16, classifying the act as a sexual assault offense.

The details of the investigation are harrowing. The convicted man, whose name has not been disclosed, picked up the girl in his car after prior contact by phone. He took her to a vacant lot on the outskirts of the city and there, inside the vehicle, carried out the assault. The victim, now 20 years old, testified in court about the level of manipulation by the perpetrator, who forced her to "swear on her mother" that she would not report him,promising her that "she would not have any problems." In an attempt to divert attention from his dark intentions, he even suggested "watching the stars" before stopping the vehicle.

It is incomprehensible how an individual with such intentions could access and remain in a position of responsibility with minors. The relationship between the perpetrator and the victim was not coincidental; the investigation determined that they had maintained prior contact via WhatsApp, having met during the pandemic, when she was living at the center and he was already working there.

The revelation of the abuse by the minor to a classmate, who alerted the educational staff at the center, and the subsequent communication to the Regional Ministry the following day, demonstrates that, although belatedly, the reporting mechanisms were activated. However, the question remains: what filters exist when hiring staff at these centers? Is the ideology of "integration" prioritized over the safety of minors?

In addition to the prison sentence, the court has imposed on the convicted man five years of supervised release after serving his sentence, and prohibits him from approaching the victim for six years. Furthermore, he has been barred for eleven years from working in any position involving regular contact with minors.

In his defense, the perpetrator attempted to undermine the complaint, alleging supposed "verbal harassment" by the girls at the center, even claiming that they "touched him" and that the complainant warned him: "If you don't do anything with me, I'm going to ruin your life." A desperate and repulsive attempt to reverse the roles and victimize himself.