Judge releases minor in custody over Badalona gang rape

11-year-old assaulted in shopping mall last November

Màgic Badalona shopping mall façade
Màgic Badalona shopping mall façade / Gemma Sánchez
Catalan News

Catalan News | @catalannews | Barcelona

April 14, 2023 10:07 AM

A judge has released the only minor in custody for the alleged gang rape of an 11-year-old in the Màgic shopping center in Badalona last November.

The magistrate summoned all parties involved in the case on Tuesday after the defense of the alleged perpetrator being held requested his release.

Six boys were involved, and three of them are confirmed to be under 14, thus too young to be eligible to be tried.

As for the remaining three, one remains unidentified, one is on probation, and the last has now been released while the case continues.

The judge has imposed precautionary measures prohibiting him from communicating with the victim and prohibiting him from entering the shopping center.

Since the case came to light in March, three further cases have been reported in the same place, the toilets of the shopping center, which the Catalan police are investigating.

As a result of these cases, the Badalona local police and the Mossos d'Esquadra have increased surveillance in the vicinity of the shopping center to prevent further cases.