Pregnancy of 12-year-old girl uncovers serious crime, case sent to prosecutors

Latvia's State Police have completed their investigation into a criminal case linked to a sexual crime against a 12-year-old girl, discovered this February, and on September 21 sent the case to the Vidzeme district prosecutor's office to begin prosecution.

How the crime came to light

On February 11 this year, police received information that a girl born in 2013 had gone to a medical facility in Vidzeme, where she was found to be pregnant. While treating her, doctors discovered she had been sexually abused and was expecting a child. By the time the pregnancy was discovered, it was already at least halfway along, but the family either did not know about her condition or had concealed it.

A criminal investigation was launched immediately. On February 14, a man born in 2003 was detained in connection with the case, and a court ordered him held in custody as a security measure.

Findings of the investigation

The investigation established that the man took advantage of the girl's helpless state and engaged in sexual relations with her, which resulted in her pregnancy. Under Latvian law, a 12-year-old is considered to be in a state of helplessness.

The investigation also uncovered circumstances suggesting that another person may bear responsibility for failing to report the crime. On February 20, a woman born in 1994 was detained on suspicion of this, and she too was placed in custody as a security measure.

Legal classification

The criminal case has been classified under Section 159, Part Three of the Criminal Law — rape causing serious consequences, or the rape of a person under 16 — as well as Section 315 of the Criminal Law, concerning failure to report a crime. The case was investigated by the Criminal Police Bureau of the State Police's Vidzeme Regional Department.