Twelve guilty, one innocent in underage sex case

The court in Maastricht sentenced the second batch of suspected clients in the Valkenburg teen prostitution case on Thursday. One man was acquitted and 12 others were convicted for fornication with a 16 year old girl, NOS reports

These 13 men are all suspected of having paid sex with a 16 year old girl in hotels in Valkenburg in October last year.

A 25 year old man was acquitted. According to the judge, there is not enough evidence to convict him. One man received five months in prison, three of which conditionally suspended. The other 11 were given a prison sentence of one day and community service of up to 240 hours.

Earlier this month the Public Prosecutor demanded unconditional prison sentences of up to a year against the defendants. Their lawyers asked for acquittal, or community service at the most, claiming that their clients did not know that the girl was underage. The court decided, however, that the men should have taken the responsibility of making sure that the girl was of age.

The first group of 13 suspects in this case heard the ruling against them last week. One man was acquitted on the spot, due to insufficient evidence and a fragile mental state. Two men were given prison sentences of 5 and 6 months respectively. The rest were given one day in prison and community service.

Armin A., the pimp and main suspect in this case, was sentenced to 2 years in prison after being found guilty of inciting the girl into prostitution.