A cluster of young individuals, accused of engaging in sexual misconduct with a 12-year-old girl, received a one-week suspension in Spain due to being below the legal age for criminal responsibility.
The purported incident involving five or six classmates took place at a public venue outside their school in Burgos, located in northern Spain.
The girl’s family reported the incident to the police last month, causing an investigation to be initiated. The girl reportedly experienced emotional distress following the alleged assault.
Authorities confirmed that the individuals involved are only 11 or 12 years old, falling below the criminal responsibility age of 14, thus exempting them from prosecution for the alleged offense.
Education authorities in Burgos, as well as the wider school community in the region, have been informed about the case. The police forwarded a comprehensive report on the incident to the Juvenile Prosecutor’s office.
Initially expelled, the accused students were allowed to return to school after one week, with both the accuser and the accused resuming classes. The boys are being kept separate from other students, along with several classmates, to prevent any stigmatization.
This development follows a separate investigation by Spanish police into alleged sexual assaults on around 10 teenage girls who claim they were assaulted on a cruise after their drinks were spiked.
A spokesperson for the Civil Guard in Barcelona disclosed that they were notified of potential incidents involving minors upon the cruise ship’s arrival on May 1, with adults suspected as the possible perpetrators. An investigation is ongoing, with no arrests made yet, although the suspects have been identified and located.
