Police officer sought kiss from 17-year-old girl – Hungarian Helsinki Committee provides legal representation
A plainclothes police officer lured a minor into his vehicle in September in a Bács-Kiskun County town by promising to help with administrative matters. The Hungarian Helsinki Committee is representing the victim in criminal proceedings.
Police officer abused authority in approaching minor girl in Bács-Kiskun County
According to an account reported by 24.hu, on 1 September a plainclothes police officer stopped in a service vehicle near the family home of a 17-year-old girl in a small town in Bács-Kiskun County. He asked her friend, who was standing in front of the house, whether the girl lived there, and when she came out, he called her to the car and told her that a report had been filed against her for an administrative offence. He read the report aloud, and the young woman admitted to the offence on the spot. The events were recorded by a security camera in a neighbouring house. The girl had not previously known the police officer, and did not know his name or identification number.
According to the girl's account, the police officer then argued that she surely would not want her mother to find out what had happened. He offered that if she got into the car, they would complete the paperwork in a secluded place and he would "drop the matter". He emphasised that they needed to go somewhere where no one could see them, as his job was at risk.
On a less busy street, the police officer moved to the back seat next to the girl and had her sign several official-looking documents – the girl did not receive copies of these. He then asked whether she had a partner. When she answered no, he asked if he could kiss her.
The girl refused the request, as well as the officer's offer to take her somewhere. After the police officer left, the girl called a friend, who came to pick her up and accompanied her home. According to her mother, the girl arrived home in tears and immediately told her what had happened. The mother filed a report that same day with the Szeged Regional Investigation Prosecutor's Office. An administrative offence proceeding against the girl was later closed with a caution.
According to a statement issued by the Hungarian Helsinki Committee on Friday, the organisation is representing the 17-year-old girl in criminal proceedings, as the police officer's conduct raises suspicion of criminal offences. In their view, a police officer must not abuse their official position: initiating personal or intimate advances towards a minor away from parents, in a vulnerable and uncontrolled situation – particularly where, at the same time, he is holding out the prospect of a favourable resolution of an ongoing administrative offence – raises particularly serious questions. According to the Helsinki Committee, a thorough investigation of the case is of fundamental importance not only to the girl's interests but also to public confidence in the police.
Source: 24.hu