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Two Hungarian tourists sexually assaulted after accepting lift in Sicily: verdict expected
A court in Catania, Sicily, has scheduled the trial of three Moroccan nationals accused of sexually assaulting two Hungarian women on the Italian island for Monday, with a verdict potentially delivered the same day, according to information obtained by MTI.
Moroccan men sexually assaulted Hungarian tourists in Sicily
Prosecutors have charged the men with gang sexual violence. The indictment also includes drug possession and allegations that the victims were forced to consume narcotics.
The prosecution believes the crime has been sufficiently proven and that no further investigation is necessary. The defendants have requested a fast-track procedure, meaning the court could issue a ruling at the very first hearing.
Under Italian law, sentences handed down through this procedure are automatically reduced by one third.
Closed-door proceedings and reduced sentences
Fast-track trials in Italy are held behind closed doors. If convicted, the defendants would benefit from the sentence reduction, though further reductions may apply should they waive their right to appeal.
The three suspects – two aged 23 and one 25 – have been held in custody at a prison near Paternò, close to Catania. At the time of the incident, all three were reportedly residing in Italy as irregular migrants, though this status is not subject to punishment in the current proceedings.
Victims remain absent due to trauma
The two Hungarian women will not attend the hearing. Their lawyer, Massimiliano Scaringella, told MTI that his clients suffered serious psychological trauma and wish to stay away to protect their privacy.
Referring to a similar case, he noted that the same court previously imposed a sentence of 12 years and eight months. In the present case, he expects prison terms of around eight years for each defendant.
If the men choose not to appeal after sentencing, a further one-sixth reduction could apply.
What happened on the Catania seafront
The incident was first reported by the Sicilian daily La Sicilia on 5 September, then shared by Daily News Hungary on the same day:
According to Italian press accounts, the two tourists accepted a lift back to their accommodation from two of the suspects while on the Catania seafront. Instead, they were driven to a remote location, where a third accomplice joined them.
The women were allegedly forced to take cocaine and were subjected to sexual acts against their will.
Police managed to trace the group to the nearby town of Paternò after one victim’s sister reported the women missing and activated a mobile phone tracking service, allowing officers to locate the device.
The victims subsequently filed formal complaints and were questioned by authorities.
Sexual violence treated as priority crime
Earlier, Catania deputy chief prosecutor Sebastiano Ardita stated that, following conviction, the men would have to serve their prison sentences either in Italy or in their country of origin, provided that full enforcement of the sentence is guaranteed there.
He stressed that sexual violence cases are treated as a priority by Italian prosecutors and courts. He also noted that under Italian criminal law, there is no legal distinction between “sexual violence” and “sexual aggression”, meaning even non-penetrative acts constitute serious criminal offences.