The Office of the Public Prosecutor asked the Charleroi Criminal Court on Wednesday to impose a sentence of 12 years' imprisonment on a defendant accused of raping a minor and of possessing, producing and distributing files showing sexual violence against minors.
The defendant contests all the charges.
In late January 2019, a 17-year-old minor reported to the judicial authorities that he had been a victim of rape for two years. Following this report, an initial search was carried out at the accused's home. The investigators seized two computers, one of which contained 127 photos showing sexual violence against minors.
"It was a computer I had won and left available in the guest room for young people who came to the house," the suspect explained. "I only used the other device and nothing was found inside." e also denied the rapes.
At the hearing, the suspect admitted that he had used the computer in question on two occasions.
On 14 October 2022, another search was carried out, following a report from the United States of the distribution of child pornography files via Skype. Photos and videos were found on game consoles belonging to the accused.
According to the Office of the Public Prosecutor, the individual lied on several occasions in the case. "He stated at the hearing that he had used the computer on two occasions and that he knew how to play games consoles, only to tell us the opposite at today's hearing,'’ the OPP noted.
The case has been adjourned until 27 November, to allow the filmed hearing of the victim of the rapes to be viewed.
