Ida-Viru judo coach charged with sexual abuse of minors
The prosecution has charged 56-year-old Ida-Viru judo coach Sergei Sergejev with the sexual abuse of his charges, exploiting the authority and trust he gained as a coach.
Ida-Viru judo coach charged with sexual abuse of minors
Viru county prosecutor's office charges 56-year-old judo coach Sergei Sergejev, who operated in Kohtla-Järve, with sexual crimes against minors, which he committed by exploiting his professional position.
According to the charge, Sergei Sergejev deliberately created situations in which he remained alone with children in training rooms, at camps and in accommodation during competitions. In these situations, he performed sexual acts against his charges, relying on the influence and trust he had acquired as a coach.
Among the victims was a child under ten years old, in whose case the man exploited the fact that the child could not understand what was happening and could not resist. The timeframe of the crimes extends back to 2015, with the most recent incidents occurring at the end of last year, before the man's arrest.
Viru county prosecutor Saskia Kask stressed that sexual crimes against children often remain hidden because victims may find it difficult to speak about what happened. This is especially true when the perpetrator is an adult who is respected and valued by others. "For children to be brave enough to talk about such situations, it is crucial that they have a trusting relationship with a parent or another close adult," Kask said.
The prosecutor called on people to inform police and child protection authorities of any suspicion that a child may be a victim of sexual abuse. "We investigate every lead carefully and responsibly, with the victim's interests and welfare as our primary concern," she added.
Sergejev was arrested in December of last year following notification by child protection authorities. Although the prosecution sought his detention, Viru county court did not agree. However, the court prohibited the coach from conducting judo training during the pre-trial investigation.
Sergejev has worked as a judo coach since 2005 and holds the highest coaching qualification — master coach. He has coached judoka from both Kohtla-Järve Kalev sports society and Afina Sports Club.
Source: ERR News
Source: ERR News