The proposal of the Prosecutor of Misdemeanors of Rhodes, was accepted with a decision issued yesterday Tuesday (29/7) by the Council of Misdemeanors of Rhodes for the arrest and temporary detention of the 38-year-old accused of rape of his 13-year-old stepdaughter.
Rhodes: 38-year-old charged with sexual abuse of 13-year-old stepdaughter
The case, according to information from dimokratiki.gr, was brought to the Council following a disagreement between the regular Investigator and Deputy Prosecutor of Misdemeanors of Rhodes. The Investigator proposed imposing restrictive conditions, while the Prosecutor insisted that the severity of the acts, the probability of recurrence, and the manner of committing the crimes left no room for milder measures.
The Council, after studying the entire case file, decided to align with the Prosecutor’s recommendation. It ordered the arrest of the accused and his detention until the trial of the case, judging that there are serious indications of guilt and immediate danger of repetition of the criminal acts.
The charges against the 38-year-old concern three particularly serious and distinct acts:
- Continuous rape of a minor, committed by a family member who lived with the minor.
- Continuous sexual abuse of a minor under 14 years old, also by a related person with cohabitation.
- Continuous assault on sexual dignity, with the minor victim both before and after completing her 12th year of age.
The case revelation and evidence
The initial revelation occurred when the 13-year-old, following a sex education lesson at school, reportedly disclosed through a message to her mother that she had suffered sexual abuse from her stepfather. The mother immediately filed a related complaint and presented a series of electronic messages, which according to the case file contained incriminating evidence.
The case file was also enriched with testimony from a person in the accused’s environment, who stated that he had confided in him about having a sexual relationship with the minor. The forensic medical examinations conducted by specialized doctors from the National Health System and the Forensic Service of the Dodecanese are described as “consistent with repeated abuse.”
The accused’s mobile phone was confiscated and is under examination, while the minor’s testimony is characterized by the investigative authorities as complete, clear and vivid – with descriptions corresponding to rape and serial assault on her sexual dignity.
Complete denial of charges
The 38-year-old denies every crime. In his defense in the presence of his lawyers, he stated that his partner’s daughter loved him excessively, to a degree that he himself considered awkward. He admits to two incidents of physical contact with intense embracing, in a state of semi-naked presence at home, which, as he claims, had no sexual nature, but believes were later distorted and misinterpreted.
He presents as his main argument the fact that he was never alone at home with the minor, as he worked many hours and there was almost always the presence of other family members. At the same time, he invokes technical reports from private forensic doctors and child psychologists, which in his opinion weaken the credibility of the allegations.
He denounces the initial forensic examination as “hasty and unclear”, while presenting his own technical opinion from a nationally known forensic doctor, in which it is argued that the findings are more compatible with intestinal difficulties rather than abuse. He also invokes a clean criminal record and stable presence in Rhodes, insisting that there is no reason for flight or commission of new acts.
The accused also claims that his estranged wife initially had no suspicion against him, and only after being informed about the forensic findings changed her attitude, while he also speaks of social “lynching” from the internet and media.
The decisive evidence
The decision was particularly influenced by the Prosecutor’s reasoning, which was based on multi-level evidence. The core of the proposal was the testimony of the 13-year-old, which was taken with proper psychological and legal safeguards and was characterized by experts as consistent, convincing and truthful. The Prosecutor emphasized that there are no indications of guidance or fabrication.
Additionally, the Council took into account the forensic report, which was considered incriminating, as well as additional testimonies: a former employer of the accused reportedly testified that he had confided part of the acts to him, while the mother of the minor’s friend reported an incident where the accused, at a social event and under the influence of alcohol, sought close contact with other minors. Furthermore, the presentation of conversations by the minor’s mother was considered crucial, in which the accused appears to indirectly admit his guilt.
The Investigator proposed restrictive conditions, estimating that these are sufficient to ensure the accused’s presence and prevent the commission of new crimes, without violating the presumption of innocence. Specifically, he recommended prohibition of exit from the country, mandatory appearance at a police station, and prohibition of contact with the minor or children in general. The Prosecutor, however, countered that such measures are insufficient in the present case, as they do not substantially prevent the accused from dangerous social behavior which, in her opinion, had already been proven in practice.
The decision of the Council of Misdemeanors does not constitute a judgment on the substance, i.e., the guilt or innocence of the accused. However, it functions as an indication of the gravity attributed to the allegations and the level of dangerousness emanating from his behavior. Temporary detention is considered an exceptional measure and is imposed only when serious reasons exist – a fact that makes the decision pivotal for the case’s development.
