On Friday, June 28, the State Police received information from the family of a minor girl that on that day an unknown man had assaulted the girl and committed acts of a sexual nature against her in the Ķengarags residential area of Riga. Upon receiving this information, the State Police launched an investigation and search for the alleged perpetrator.
The State Police obtained video footage of the alleged perpetrator and images were circulated in the media, appealing to people who recognized him to come forward. The State Police also carried out an extensive survey of local residents and other operational measures.
Thanks to the residents who actively provided information, the police managed to identify the alleged sexual abuser and establish his whereabouts.
On Monday, July 1, police officers arrested him in Riga. The detainee was born in 2003 and has previous convictions for sexual offenses as well as property crimes.
The police did not disclose the age of the victim but said that the girl was under 14.
Residents told Latvian Television that the crime took place in broad daylight in a stairwell.
In connection with the incident, criminal proceedings had been initiated for an act of a sexual nature intended to gratify one's sexual desire by physical contact with the victim's body, if committed by taking advantage of the victim's state of helplessness or against the victim's will, by using violence, threats or by using trust, authority or other influence over the victim, if committed with a person under 16 years of age. For this offense, the law provides for imprisonment for a term of five to 15 years and probation supervision for a term of up to five years.
On Wednesday, July 3, the court remanded the suspect in custody.
