Seven arrested in eastern province for sexual abuse of minor

ELAZIĞ

The victim was placed under state protection while the gendarmerie detained seven people. Hürriyet photo

Seven suspects between the ages of 16 and 68 were arrested today for abusing a 15-year-old minor in the eastern province of Elazığ’s Karakoçan district, daily Hürriyet reported.

The abuse allegedly began seven years ago when the victim was only 8, with her 68-year-old neighbor allegedly presenting gifts to the minor while sexually abusing her. The victim’s teachers intervened and despite the mother’s denial of the abuse, the teachers reportedly managed to frighten the elderly man into staying away from the girl.

The abuse allegedly restarted, however, after the teachers were reassigned elsewhere. In an attempt to obtain help, the victim related the story of the abuse to her own brother, who was one year older, who in turn allegedly abused her as well.

The incident was revealed when fighting erupted between families, and gendarmerie officers arrived in the village to intervene. The officers learned of the ongoing abuse and launched an investigation into the matter.

The victim was placed under state protection while the gendarmerie detained seven people, including the 68-year-old man. All seven suspects were subsequently arrested by a court, which has also issued arrest warrants for seven others. The victim’s brother, meanwhile, was captured in the southern province of Antalya.