A 45-year-old man was sentenced to 10 years in prison, who sat on the bench of the Mixed Jury Court of Thessaloniki, accused of indecent abuse with the victim of his (former) partner’s minor daughter.

The case was reported in December 2019, when the 12-year-old (then) Pathousa confided in her godmother what had gone before. At that time, the minor had decided to move away from her mother, who had four other children from different partners, including one with the accused. When she turned 15, the minor reaffirmed her complaint.

He himself, in his apology, denied the charge against him, citing fraud. “I have been in prison for seven months without any proof. What I am accused of is unbearable. They made the little girl accuse me because they didn’t like me,” the 45-year-old said, among other things. The defendant stated that he stood by his partner even after their separation, trying to help her children.

His claims were not accepted and the court unanimously found him guilty without recognizing him as a mitigating factor. After the court’s verdict, he returned to prison.