A 41-year-old man has been arrested in Vila Franca de Xira on suspicions of sexually abusing his minor stepdaughter over several years, the Polícia Judiciária (PJ) disclosed on Friday.
According to investigators, the child, now 10, had been abused by her stepfather since she was 7. The suspect, also accused of domestic violence, instilled “fear” in the girl, forcing her “into silence.”
The girl witnessed her mother being abused by the stepfather for years.
Recently, the child confided in her mother about the ongoing abuse. However, despite having filed a criminal complaint against the suspect earlier in 2023, her mother did not report the crimes to authorities.
Consequently, the girl sought assistance from school psychologists, who immediately alerted the PJ.
The suspect is set to appear for a preliminary judicial hearing to determine the appropriate coercive measures.
