A network of prominent businessmen and women was exposed in Murcia for their involvement in a child prostitution scandal. Seven well-known businessmen, all holding influential positions in the business world, admitted to paying for sex with minors aged between 15 and 17.
The network, led by several women, recruited vulnerable girls from schools and offered them to clients. The women acted as “mothers,” convincing the girls to engage in prostitution by offering them money and other incentives.
Despite initial sentences of up to 25 years in prison, an agreement with prosecutors at Murcia’s Provincial Court, significantly reduced their sentences to five months per offence. Due to the length of the case and the relatively short sentences, these businessmen will likely avoid prison.
The scandal was uncovered in 2014 by the National Police. Several women involved in the recruitment of minors were also sentenced. The network’s operations were characterized by exploitation and coercion, as the girls were often forced to comply with the demands of their clients.
The case highlights the pervasive nature of child exploitation and the need for increased efforts to protect vulnerable children from such harmful practices. It also underscores the importance of law enforcement agencies and prosecutors in investigating and prosecuting those involved in child prostitution.
