The Office of the Public Prosecutor sought an eight-year prison sentence at the Charleroi Correctional Court on Wednesday for a defendant who allegedly raped a minor after luring him from a metro station.
The man is accused of rape, unlawful detention, threats with a pistol, assault, and illegal residence.
On 28 December 2020, a neighbour of the defendant called local police after rescuing the victim, who had managed to escape from the flat where he had been detained and sexually assaulted.
At the same time, the defendant presented himself to the police with several knife injuries. Although these were initially thought to have resulted from a conflict between the two individuals, investigations revealed a different sequence of events.
“The victim met the defendant at a metro station. CCTV footage confirms the defendant offered the young man money if he helped him to return home with his groceries, as the defendant did not have €2.50 for public transport,” the public prosecutor’s office explained.
As soon as they entered the defendant’s flat, he quickly locked the front door, preventing the victim from escaping, then subjected him to physical assault, threats with a firearm, and sexual abuse.
The defendant, who is being tried in absentia, disputed the victim’s account.
Judgement is expected on 17 January.
