Turin judge frees man accused of assaulting 13-year-old after apology, sparking political outrage

During a weekend in Turin, a 42-year-old Bengali man is accused of requesting a 13-year-old girl to hug him before sexually assaulting her in a mini-market; the girl had previously reported a similar incident two weeks earlier. Police noted the suspect’s agitated demeanor and recovered store camera footage that also captured him assaulting a woman earlier that day. Although prosecutors labeled him a repeat offender, a local judge released him on Monday after the man said he was “sorry” and had drunk two tequilas, invoking his remorse and cooperative attitude.

The ruling ignited outrage from Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who pledged Justice Ministry inspectors would examine the case, and from Justice Minister Carlo Nordio and Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, who called the release “unbelievable.” Authorities emphasized the separation of powers but pledged to gather all relevant information amid the public outcry.