The Judicial Police (PJ), through the Criminal Investigation Department of Setúbal, has identified and arrested a 27-year-old man strongly suspected of committing crimes of rape, pornography, and luring minors for sexual purposes. The victim is a 15-year-old child.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the PJ disclosed that their investigations “found that, in 2022, the suspect, using social media, sent a friend request accepted by the victim, who was 12 years old at the time”.
The suspect, “posing as a minor of 16 years”, succeeded in gaining “trust through conversations that lasted for two years.”
During this period, according to the PJ, “photos of minors in sexual acts were shared via WhatsApp, culminating in the arrangement of a meeting between the two in May 2024”.
After the school activities concluded, “as agreed with the suspect,” the victim traveled to Cacilhas using public transportation.
During the meeting, “the detainee lured the minor to go with him to a room.” “Despite the minor’s opposition, the detainee, using physical force and solely for his personal gratification, forced significant sexual acts,” the statement reveals.
After the assault, “the minor, a resident of the Cacém area, contacted his father by phone, who picked him up in Cacilhas”. According to the PJ, “during the journey, the victim suffered convulsions and was admitted to Hospital Amadora-Sintra, where he remained hospitalized for some time”.
As part of the investigation, the PJ determined that the suspect “used methods and fake profiles to hinder his swift identification”.
The detainee, “already with a criminal record for similar offenses,” will be presented today for an initial judicial hearing to determine the conditions of his detention.
