A judicial decision in Italy has ignited a political and public firestorm after a judge reclassified serious sexual assault charges against a migrant man who impregnated a 10-year-old girl, leading to a significantly reduced prison sentence.
The Case and the Controversial Ruling
The horrific abuse occurred in the summer of 2024 at the Hotel Il Cacciatore, a migrant reception centre in Collio, Lombardy, housing approximately 20 asylum seekers. The victim, a young girl from sub-Saharan Africa, was taken to hospital where tests confirmed she was pregnant; she later underwent an abortion.
The 29-year-old defendant from Bangladesh was arrested after the girl's mother raised the alarm on 1 October 2024, noting her daughter's sudden behavioural changes and abdominal pain. The man, who had gained the mother's trust as a neighbour, did not deny his involvement, even before DNA confirmation, though he claimed the acts were not violent.
In a ruling reported by Corriere della Sera, the judge reclassified the charges from 'aggravated sexual assault against a minor' to 'sexual acts with a child'. Following a fast-track trial, which automatically cut the term by one-third, the man was sentenced to five years in prison. The prosecution had originally sought a sentence of six years and eight months.
Political Fury and Demands for Legal Change
The sentence and charge downgrade have provoked fierce condemnation from Italian politicians. League MP Simona Bordonali led the outcry, stating she was 'stunned' by the mere five-year term for what she called 'atrocious and unspeakable violence'.
'It's our duty to question the proportionality of sentences, the effective protection of minors, and the message that sentences like this risk sending,' Bordonali declared. 'Justice must be commensurate with the suffering inflicted on the most defenceless victims.'
League leader Matteo Salvini had previously labelled the court's decision as 'appalling' and 'unacceptable' in November. The official reasoning for the charge reduction is due to be filed within 90 days of the ruling.
Community Reaction and Aftermath
The case has cast a spotlight on the migrant centre, which faced local protests back in 2015. However, following the 2024 crime, local figures were quick to separate the incident from wider migrant relations.
Parish priest Don Battista Dassa told media there was a 'climate of peaceful coexistence' and that the episode had 'nothing to do with migrants'. Hotel manager Giovanni Cantoni echoed this, stating he had 'never had any problems' with the asylum seekers housed there.
The defendant, who expressed regret saying 'I understand the gravity of it', has been held in Cremona prison for the past year. The case continues to fuel intense debate about legal protections for child victims and the sentencing of sexual crimes in Italy.
