After a nine-month investigation, a 38-year-old homeless Moroccan national living in France has been arrested and charged with the rape of a 15-year-old boy.
The incident took place in April at the Villebourbon SNCF station in Montauban. The suspect, identifiable by the absence of several teeth, was apprehended after DNA evidence and a composite sketch led investigators to him.
As reported by La Dépêche du Midi, the teenage victim, from a village near Cahors in the Lot, traveled to Montauban to celebrate his 16th birthday on April 13. After attending a rugby match of the Montalbanese Sports Union, he found himself without a place to stay overnight. Seeking refuge at the train station, he encountered the suspect, who approached him accompanied by a dog.
According to the investigation, the suspect followed the teenager and forcibly led him to a parking area, where he subjected him to an attack described as brutal and violent. The victim, in a state of shock, was unable to resist. Following the incident, the teenager sought medical attention, and biological samples were collected as evidence.
The Tarn-et-Garonne police launched an extensive investigation, aided by the victim’s description of the suspect and DNA evidence. A composite sketch emphasizing the man’s missing teeth was instrumental in identifying him. On Dec. 12, during a routine identity check in Montauban, police apprehended the suspect, who was later identified as a 38-year-old undocumented man from Fez, Morocco.
In police custody, the man denied involvement with the assistance of an Arabic-speaking translator, claiming he was not in Montauban at the time of the attack. However, investigators confronted him with the DNA match from the victim’s medical examination, confirming his identity.
The suspect was presented to Montalbanese investigating judge Elsa Servant-Bouchite on Dec. 13. Despite maintaining his innocence, he was formally charged with rape and sexual assault of a minor. At the request of both the prosecution and the judge, the suspect was placed in pre-trial detention at Beausoleil remand center.
“The evidence is unequivocal, and the suspect has been indicted for these grave charges,” stated Bruno Sauvage, Montauban’s public prosecutor.
The suspect’s lawyer, Amélie Piazzon, declined to comment, citing the ongoing investigation.
