72-year-old man, shop co-owner, arrested for sexual assault of 13-year-old girl in Cluj-Napoca
A 72-year-old man, co-owner of a shop in Cluj-Napoca, has been arrested after allegedly sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl twice. The case has only come to light now, although the incidents occurred in July.
Shop co-owner from Cluj-Napoca arrested for repeated sexual assault of a minor
A 72-year-old man, one of the administrators of a shop in Cluj-Napoca, has been arrested after allegedly sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl inside his own shop, according to ProTV News. The incidents occurred in July, but the girl only found the courage to speak about them recently.
According to investigators, the minor lived near the shop and visited it regularly. On two separate occasions, several days apart, the suspect allegedly approached her, embraced her and touched her in intimate areas.
"During one such visit, when the 13-year-old girl entered the shop to make some purchases, the individual allegedly started talking to her, then took her in his arms and touched her in intimate areas, according to investigators," a ProTV correspondent declared.
The police acted swiftly after being notified. The suspect was detained, and investigators carried out searches and checked the surveillance camera recordings from the shop. He is accused of sexual assault of a minor.
The community in the area reacted with shock upon learning the news. "He's the shop owner, I can't believe it. At his age, he has children, grandchildren. The girl is smart, beautiful," declared a local resident.
The child's delayed disclosure is explained by specialists through psychological mechanisms specific to minor victims. Matei Neagoe, a psychotherapist, declared that "they face shame or stigma associated with being a victim of such a situation. A trauma, obviously, causes a blockage. It can affect sleep, they don't rest — these signs appear".
Following the notification, the Child Protection Directorate was notified, and the girl is to receive psychological counselling.
The arrested suspect could not be contacted for comment. The ProTV News team attempted to obtain a reaction from the other administrator of the commercial enterprise, but shortly after a conversation with an employee, the shop was abruptly closed, with the notice "permanently closed" displayed on the door.
Source: Știrile ProTV