A Moroccan national was arrested last week on suspicion of raping the 12-year-old granddaughter of his neighbor at their home in the Spanish city of Zaragoza.
An investigation was launched by the Family and Women’s Care Unit (UFAM) of the National Police into the incident which allegedly took place on June 1, 2022, but has only recently come to light.
Spanish news outlet El Caso reported how the 48-year-old suspect entered his neighbor’s home in the Valdefierro district of the city while their granddaughter was visiting. The 12-year-old had been left in the house alone whilst her grandmother walked the dog.
Hearing a commotion in the kitchen, the young girl went downstairs to see who she thought was her grandmother returning but instead found her neighbor.
The suspect was accused of grabbing the girl’s arms and touching her breasts and bottom before undressing her and trying to kiss her.
The victim managed to escape her attacker and fled into the living room, but was soon apprehended once more and pushed against the sofa before being raped. It is alleged the man penetrated her vaginally until he ejaculated.
After the attack, the minor is said to have showered and found that she was suffering vaginal bleeding. She also claimed her attacker attempted to re-enter the home the following day but she managed to escape.
The victim held her silence about the attack for a year and a half before confessing it to her older sister on Dec. 29 last year on the condition that she kept it a secret.
However, the pair came face to face with the man on New Year’s Day during a visit to their grandmother’s house, prompting the victim’s sister to confront him angrily which drew the attention of other family members.
After disclosing the incident to their parents, the victim was accompanied to the police station where she eventually filed a report.
The Moroccan national was subsequently arrested on suspicion of rape but was released during the investigation subject to a 200-meter restraining order from the girl.