Outcry in Italy After Judge Frees Accused Child Abuser Because He Said ‘Sorry’

A judicial decision in Turin has ignited a political firestorm in Italy after a judge released a 42-year-old Bengali man accused of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl—just two days after his arrest—because he expressed remorse.

The man, who was detained on Saturday following the alleged assault at a mini market in northern Turin, was freed Monday after telling the court, “I’m sorry for what happened. It had never happened to me before,” according to Italian newspaper La Stampa.

The Incident

The alleged assault occurred Saturday afternoon when the girl entered a local store to buy a fruit juice for her brother. A store worker, later identified as the Bengali national, engaged her in conversation and asked if he could “hug her” before sexually assaulting her, La Stampa reported. The newspaper said it withheld graphic details out of respect for the minor.

The victim fled the store in shock, called a friend for help, and later told her mother, who contacted police. She was examined by a pediatrician at Turin’s Regina Margherita hospital.

In her testimony, the girl revealed a similar incident had occurred two weeks earlier, when the same man “put his hand on me” before she managed to escape. Police who responded to the scene noted the suspect’s “agitated state” and restless behavior during questioning.

Surveillance footage from the store provided even more troubling evidence—it showed the suspect had assaulted another woman just 40 minutes before the alleged attack on the minor. Police wrote in their report that the man “persisted in his behavior despite her clear refusal, attempting to hold her inside the store until she managed to reach the exit,” adding that he “suddenly groped her one last time” as she fled.

The Release

Prosecutors sought detention during Monday’s preliminary hearing, pointing to the suspect’s alleged pattern of behavior. But the judge ruled otherwise, according to Rai News. While acknowledging that “strong evidence of guilt” existed and that the victim’s testimony was “logical, consistent, and corroborated by surveillance camera,” the judge ordered the man’s release, citing his “remorse” and “cooperative attitude.” The suspect also claimed he had consumed “two tequilas,” which he reportedly offered as justification for his actions.

Political Backlash

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni took to her official Facebook account to voice her outrage, describing the case in stark terms.

“A 13-year-old girl leaves home to buy a snack for her brothers. She walks into a convenience store. She comes out devastated,” Meloni wrote. “A man is arrested within a few hours on charges of being responsible for that assault. The prosecutor requests jail time. Two nights. Then he’s out.”

She criticized the judge’s reasoning—no prior convictions, cooperation, and an apology—and noted that her government’s laws are strict and law enforcement acted swiftly, only to have the judicial system undermine their efforts within 48 hours.

“Who’s going to explain this to that family? Who’s going to explain this to that neighborhood, which knows tonight that that man is back there?” Meloni asked. “We’ll keep going. Regulations, personnel, equipment, resources. All the way through. But this makes it really difficult.”

She concluded with a message of solidarity for the victim and her family.

Justice Minister Carlo Nordio confirmed that inspectors from the Justice Ministry have been dispatched to Turin to investigate the ruling. While acknowledging the separation of powers between the executive and judiciary, Nordio said the inspectors would gather all relevant information given the exceptional circumstances and the “social commotion” the case has caused.

Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, leader of the Lega party, was even more blunt in his condemnation. He described the man as a “pig”—with “all due respect to pigs”—and said he would “love” to meet the judge who ordered the release. Salvini reiterated his party’s long-standing calls for the chemical castration of convicted rapists.

A Broader Debate

The case has reignited public debate in Italy over judicial leniency in sexual assault cases and the balance between judicial independence and political accountability. Critics of the ruling point to the surveillance footage of an earlier assault on a woman—which the judge reportedly acknowledged—as evidence that the suspect posed an ongoing threat to the community.

The release also highlights tensions between Italy’s right-wing government and the judiciary, a recurring theme in Meloni’s administration. While the government has pledged stricter penalties for sexual offenders, this case demonstrates how individual judicial decisions can undercut those efforts in the eyes of the public.

For now, inspectors are in Turin to review what happened. But for the victim and her family—and for the neighborhood that knows the accused man is back on the streets—questions about accountability and safety remain unanswered.

Source: www.breitbart.com — https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2026/09/02/italy-bengali-man-abuses-minor-girl-gets-released-48h-later-because-he-is-sorry/