By Euro Weekly News Media • Published: 20 Feb 2013 • 11:27
ONCE one of Spain’s top karate champions, Fernando Torres-Baena, is facing more than 100 sex abuse charges.
The ‘karate case’ is being labelled as Spain’s biggest juvenile sexual abuse scandal.
Prosecutors are asking that he be sentenced to 303 years in jail on 36 counts of sexual abuse and 13 other crimes related to the corruption of minors.
Torres-Baena denies that he had sex with any of his students, male or female, under the age of 18. He admits he had sex with both of his monitors, one of whom is his wife. The women also face charges of luring victims to be used for sexual pleasure by Torres-Baena.
Torres-Baena said during his trial on Tuesday February 19, that the charges brought against him are part of a plot aimed at breaking “the monopoly” that he had on karate schools in Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands.
Investigators, say that the abuse took place for at least 15 years before Torres Baena and others were arrested. They also accuse the defendants of running a type of sexual sect at the karate school.
The court heard complaints from 61 students describing anal and vaginal penetrations, fellatio, masturbation and other sexual acts, all of which took place in a small room with a bed and on the third floor of the gym.
On Thursday February 21, Jose Maria Palomino will take the stand on behalf of 60 of the 61 alleged victims.
by SGL
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